New Caledonian storm petrel explained

The New Caledonian storm petrel (Fregetta lineata) is a species of bird in the family Oceanitidae.

Distribution and habitat

It is an endemic breeder to New Caledonia, and has a wider nonbreeding range throughout the Coral Sea and the South Pacific, as far east as the Marquesas.

At-sea observations continue to occur of the east coast of Australia, however the location of a breeding colony is yet to be discovered. On 26 September 2014, a juvenile F. lineata was discovered on the shore of mainland New Caledonia, in an inhabited area. This is the only definite record of F. lineata on land and indicates a likely nearby breeding location.

Taxonomy

Described in 1848, the New Caledonian storm petrel, alongside the closely related New Zealand storm petrel (F. maoriana) which shares a similar streaked coloration, was long thought to merely be an aberrant member of another storm petrel species. The recognition of the New Zealand storm petrel as a valid species prompted a reevaluation of the New Caledonian storm petrel, and it was thus revived as a distinct species in 2022.[1] It is thought to be critically endangered, with an adult population of only 100 - 1,000 pairs.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Bretagnolle . Vincent . Flood . Robert L. . Gaba . Sabrina . Shirihai . Hadoram . 2022-03-11 . Fregetta lineata (Peale, 1848) is a valid extant species endemic to New Caledonia . Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club . 142 . 1 . 111–130 . 10.25226/bboc.v142i1.2022.a6 . 247385755 . 0007-1595. free .
  2. Web site: The New Caledonian storm petrel, a new species of bird already endangered CNRS . 2022-03-23 . www.cnrs.fr . 14 March 2022 . en.