Bird identification sought

[Leo Berzins]

This morning at Murrah Beach, I came across a washed-up dead seabird and I have no idea what it might be. Any suggestions much appreciated.

(Apologies for the large file sizes.)

 

It was at least as big as a Silver Gull. Phone pics don’t show the colours well but the outer wing feathers were pale pink and underneath they had a black stripe running through their centre. The bill was mainly yellow, the feet were black and webbed.

 

Definitely not a local!

 

Regards,
Leo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/0ystercatcher/

 

[Alex Metcalfe]

Hi Leo,

I'm thinking it could potentially be a Caspian Tern. I have also seen a dead one locally a while back, but I also observed one hanging around Nelsons mid last year.

Regards 

Alex

[Leo Berzins]

Thanks Alex.

 

Definitely not a Caspian Tern, a bird I know well and see fairly often.

 

My best guess is one of the Tropicbirds (juvenile Red-tailed?)

 

Regards,
Leo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/0ystercatcher/

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[Alex Metcalfe]

I would love to take a look at it if it is a tropicbird, beautiful birds. I think you might be right there taking another look at it. 

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[Barry Virtue]

Decayed Red billed Tropicbord??

Barry 

Barry 0437590619

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[Barbara Jones]

Leo

HANZAB White-tailed Tropicbird has mention of pink in the Description. “Below white, with varying flush of orange, pink or reddish. Underwing, white or flushed like body”

Maybe SOSSA would have a clue?

Interesting!

Barbara

Sent from my iPhone

On 3 Jan 2024, at 6:12 pm, Leo Berzins <leo.b...@internode.on.net> wrote:



This morning at Murrah Beach, I came across a washed-up dead seabird and I have no idea what it might be. Any suggestions much appreciated.

(Apologies for the large file sizes.)

 

It was at least as big as a Silver Gull. Phone pics don’t show the colours well but the outer wing feathers were pale pink and underneath they had a black stripe running through their centre. The bill was mainly yellow, the feet were black and webbed.

 

Definitely not a local!

 

Regards,
Leo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/0ystercatcher/

 

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[David Adams]

It does look like a Tropicbird, but I couldn't say which species.What I can see of the back of the bird in the last photo looks very like a Tropicbird. Can't tell if it's more likely a White-tailed or Red-tailed. Seeing the wing top would help on that. The lower bill in your pictures appears much shorter than the upper bill, but that must be damage/decay. The two species have different bill shapes, but it's hardly the first field mark to learn. Haven't lived around them in 20 years....

They're such lovely creatures, do we have records from our area? This seems too far from the tropics for them, but I don't really know.

[Leo Berzins]

Thanks Barry.

 

I’ve been in touch with Claire Greenwell (world expert on Fairy Terns and a great seabirder) and she suggests Red=tailed Troipicbird as the most likely.

 

I’m very wary of handling dead seabirds and I only took three phone pics.

 

If weather permits, I might get back there on Friday with a proper camera and some disposable gloves.

 

Regards,
Leo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/0ystercatcher/

 

 

From: Barry Virtue

Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2024 7:05 PM

To: fs...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: [FSCB] Bird identification sought

 

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[Libby Hepburn]

Hi Leo, 

 You may find it helpful to add the images to the “Found Feathers” project on iNaturalist. Here you can add a photo of any feather and I’m always impressed by how swiftly and accurately they are identified. It is likely also to help in whether the bird is way out of its range. 

 Great find!

 Libby

On 3 Jan 2024, at 6:14 pm, Leo Berzins <leo.b...@internode.on.net> wrote:

This morning at Murrah Beach, I came across a washed-up dead seabird and I have no idea what it might be. Any suggestions much appreciated.

(Apologies for the large file sizes.)

 

It was at least as big as a Silver Gull. Phone pics don’t show the colours well but the outer wing feathers were pale pink and underneath they had a black stripe running through their centre. The bill was mainly yellow, the feet were black and webbed.

 

Definitely not a local! <wlEmoticon-smile[1].png>

 

Regards,
Leo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/0ystercatcher/

 

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