Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulweria videograbs
Courtesy of Dan Zetterström.
Dan Zetterström has very kindly put together this neat page of videograbs to supplement and enhance the petrel discussion. To date (September 30th), the vast majority of replies have concerned three species: Great-winged Petrel, Jouanin's Petrel and Bulwer's Petrel. Of those, most birders have favored Bulwer's Petrel, but very few have expressed real confidence in their decision. The images remain confusing to many, seemingly showing a petrel larger, heavier, and with broader wings than one might expect for a good Bulwer's Petrel. Much of the identification has focused on the prominence of the pale carpal bar as a pro-Bulwer's feature, which shows only in the first image and was not noted in the field. At least two birders have suggested with some confidence that some of the features, including the confusion over a dark pterodroma, better fit Jouanin's Petrel Others have dismissed that species altogether based mostly on the bill size and carriage, and again on the appearance of the prominent carpal bar, the suggestion being that Jouanin's shouldn't show such an obviously pronounced carpal bar.
By way of comparison, I've added the images of the unidentified petrel directly below Dan's Zetterström's Bulwer's Petrel videograbs which I hope viewers will find useful.
We are still interested in receiving opinions and comments on the identity of the Santa Barbara Channel petrel, though we can fully accept that many viewers keep coming back to Bulwer's Petrel when they see those images.
By way of comparison, I've added the images of the unidentified petrel directly below Dan's Zetterström's Bulwer's Petrel videograbs which I hope viewers will find useful.
We are still interested in receiving opinions and comments on the identity of the Santa Barbara Channel petrel, though we can fully accept that many viewers keep coming back to Bulwer's Petrel when they see those images.
<< Back to first set of uid petrel images
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