Matsudaira's Storm-Petrel Hydrobates matsudairae Scientific name definitions
- VU Vulnerable
- Names (25)
- Monotypic
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Afrikaans | Oosterse Stormswael |
Catalan | ocell de tempesta de Matsudaira |
Chinese | 日本叉尾海燕 |
Chinese (SIM) | 日本叉尾海燕 |
Czech | buřňáček Matsudairův |
Dutch | Japans Stormvogeltje |
English | Matsudaira's Storm-Petrel |
English (Hong Kong SAR China) | Matsudaira's Storm Petrel |
English (United States) | Matsudaira's Storm-Petrel |
French | Océanite de Matsudaira |
French (France) | Océanite de Matsudaira |
German | Matsudairawellenläufer |
Indonesian | Petrel-badai matsudaira |
Japanese | クロウミツバメ |
Norwegian | iwostormsvale |
Polish | nawałnik wędrowny |
Portuguese (Portugal) | Painho-de-matsudaira |
Russian | Японская качурка |
Serbian | Japanska burnica |
Slovak | víchrovníček lúčokrídly |
Spanish | Paíño de Matsudaira |
Spanish (Spain) | Paíño de Matsudaira |
Swedish | matsudairastormsvala |
Turkish | Matsudaira Fırtınakırlangıcı |
Ukrainian | Качурка Матсудайра |
Hydrobates matsudairae (Kuroda, 1922)
Definitions
- HYDROBATES
- matsudairae / matsudairai
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Field Identification
24–25 cm; 62 g (1); wingspan 46–56 cm (2). Large dark storm-petrel with long forked tail , long wings , and noticeable white shafts at base of primaries forming distinct mark on upperwing. Head, body and most of wing-coverts dark sooty-brown, often more blackish over head and neck , blackest on tail and especially on remiges and upper primary-coverts, with large and sometimes contrasting pale panel , usually diffuse towards forewing, formed by browner or buffier tinge to inner, central and bases of outer greater coverts, central and outer median coverts and outer lesser coverts, this panel reaching bend of wing and larger towards rear base of wing by pale fringes on innermost secondaries; blackish distal upperwing has usually bold, white, crescent-shaped mark starting at leading edge and formed by basal shafts of outer 6–7 primaries (but this feature is occasionally lacking during non-breeding season) (3); iris dark brown; bill black; legs and feet black. Sexes alike, but female has marginally longer wings and tarsi than male on average (1). Juvenile as adult. Some other dark storm-petrels may show some white shafts at base of primaries, but usually much more conspicuous in present species; identified also by proportions, often has neckless appearance contrasting with noticeably long tail , thus wings seem set far forward on body; H. monorhis often has noticeable white primary shafts as well, but is smaller, with smaller head, shorter tail that is notched rather than clearly forked, and narrower wings, with upperwing panel sometimes narrower as well.
Systematics History
Subspecies
Distribution
Tropical Indian Ocean and Timor Sea, breeding at Kita-Iwojima and Minami-Iwojima, in Volcano Is (Iwo Is), SE of Japan. Has also been recorded around the Ogasawara Is and is assumed by some to breed there (4), but this requires confirmation.
Habitat
Marine and pelagic, normally occurring far from coast; on migration often found over waters of continental shelf; frequently occurs in warm waters, but may be associated with local areas of upwelling and convergence. Breeds on high ground on offshore islands.
Movement
Long-distance migrant: after breeding (departing Jun) (1), moves S across equator perhaps to Timor Sea off NW Australia, where turns W into Indian Ocean, wintering mostly in rich waters of equatorial belt around Seychelles (5) and W to Kenya (inshore records in Jul and Aug 1981) (6), occasionally S to Malagasy region (2), Mozambique (Aug 2015) (7) and South Africa (Jul 1988, Mar 2002) (1, 8), as well as N to Chagos Is and Lakshadweep (11º N) (9), with single record off Oman, in Aug 2013 (10); some perhaps winter off NE New Guinea (although no definite records from there) and others (presumably first-year birds) apparently remain all year in NE Indian Ocean (e.g. Jun record at 03º N, 88º E) (11, 1). Exodus from Indian Ocean commences Sept and continues until Nov (2). Recorded (presumably on passage) through Indonesia in Mar (12), May (Lombok Strait) (13), Jun (Banda Sea, off Wetar) (14) and Sept (Lombok Strait) (15), while further N there are several records off Taiwan (16). In Melanesia, recorded off New Ireland, Buka I and Bougainville (Jul–Aug) (17) and Emira I (late Jun) (18). Surprisingly few records in Japan N of breeding islands (19).
Diet and Foraging
Little information available on diet; known to feed on galley waste from ships. Feeds mainly on wing, by dipping and snatching from surface. Sometimes follows ships. Usually encountered alone or in twos during non-breeding season (2).
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
No data (1).
Breeding
Arrives at colonies in Jan, with egg-laying from mid Mar to late Apr, and fledging from early to mid Jun (19, 1). Colonial; nests in burrows. Fledging occurs mostly in Jun.
Conservation Status
VULNERABLE. Little known, reported to breed on Kita iwojima and Minami iwojima in Volcano Is, to SE of Japan; Kita iwojima not visited recently. No population figures available (20), but speculated to be in excess of 20,000 birds (1). Re-assessed as Vulnerable in 2014, due to tiny breeding range on just two islands, which makes it susceptible to stochastic events. Survey work urgently required to accurately determine population size, trends and main threats.