The Vanuatu petrel or Falla's petrel (''Pterodroma occulta'') is a species of
gadfly petrel
The gadfly petrels or ''Pterodroma'' are a genus of about 35 species of petrels, part of the seabird order Procellariiformes. The gadfly petrels are named for their speedy weaving flight, as if evading gadflies ( horseflies). The flight action is ...
. This little-known
seabird was first
scientifically described in 2001 based on six
specimen
Specimen may refer to:
Science and technology
* Sample (material), a limited quantity of something which is intended to be similar to and represent a larger amount
* Biological specimen or biospecimen, an organic specimen held by a biorepository ...
s taken in 1927 off
Merelava,
Vanuatu, and a single bird found ashore in 1983 in
New South Wales,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. The first confirmed breeding locality was only discovered in 2009 on the island of
Vanua Lava, Vanuatu, but based on reports by locals it is supposed to also breed on
Merelava.
The
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
has not recognized the Vanuatu petrel as a species, but maintain that it as a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of the very similar
white-necked petrel, ''P. cervicalis'', with the "combined" species considered
vulnerable
Vulnerable may refer to:
General
* Vulnerability
* Vulnerability (computing)
* Vulnerable adult
* Vulnerable species
Music
Albums
* ''Vulnerable'' (Marvin Gaye album), 1997
* ''Vulnerable'' (Tricky album), 2003
* ''Vulnerable'' (The Used album) ...
.
The alternate name commemorates
Robert Falla
Sir Robert Alexander Falla (21 July 1901 – 23 February 1979) was a New Zealand museum administrator and ornithologist.
Early life
Falla was born in Palmerston North in 1901 to George Falla and his wife, Elizabeth Kirk. As his father was wo ...
, a New Zealand
ornithologist
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...
.
Description
This species resembles the white-necked petrel, but is slightly smaller at in length and in weight. It has a black cap, white rear neck, dark grey back, wings and tail, and a darker rump. The underparts are white with dark bases to the primary feathers. Like the white-necked petrel, the upperparts of worn birds become darker.
It is very difficult to differentiate the Vanuatu petrel from the white-necked petrel at sea.
Behaviour
This is a solitary
pelagic species of the open seas of the south-west
Pacific. It has an effortless graceful flight with few wing beats, and does not follow ships. It feeds on the wing, picking fish and squid from near the surface.
References
* Onley and Scofield (2007). ''Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the World.'' Helm Publishing.
Vanuatu petrel VanBirds. Accessed 22 January 2010.
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1262610
Pterodroma
Birds of Vanuatu
Birds described in 2001
Endemic birds of Vanuatu
Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN