Pink-footed Shearwater
(Ardenna creatopus) Shearwaters and Petrels (Procellariidae)
dk: Chileskråpe es: Pardela Patas Rosadas
2593 (3 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
A medium dark bird. The only larger shearwater in the area in dark morph with bright bill and dark bill tip.
2594 (4 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
In the first photo it almost looks like a Sooty Shearwater, dark and slim, but in the others it looks better for a medium dark Pink-footed.
2595 (3 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
A typical bright bird with dirty gray neck and undertail as well as bright belly. The underwing varies.
2596 (3 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Upperside of medium dark bird. Broad wings and rounded tail as well as the bill are typical for the species.
2597 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Compact expression.
2598 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
The bright markings around the eye seems to be a variable character for this species, see 2592 for example.
2599 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Slight wedge-shaped tail, here where it is held close together. But no doubt about the species, since the necessary field marks are present. And it was the only shearwater species we saw this day.
2600 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
The fish bait was very efficient, though it only attracted one shearwater species, but several albatrosses.
2601 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Another typical brighter bird.
2602 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Here you sense how variable the underwing can be on the bright birds. Rather dark here, even though the angle probably enhances the darkening effect.
2603 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Again a typical individual with the velvety brown color on the upperside.
2604 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Very dark presentation but mostly an angle effect, I think.
2605 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Bright morph. The legs have the same color as the basis of the bill, and never protrude passed the tip of the tail.
2606 (3 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2607 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Seen from the front it looks very long-winged compared to a side view.
2608 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
From this angle the head looks very small and the wings very broad.
2609 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Seems shorter-winged than 2607, and it is easier to perceive the species characteristics. Notice the aerodynamic? bump shape of the back.
2610 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Individual in heavy molt.
2611 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2612 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Also here the head seems very small compared to normal. Angle effect.
2613 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Flight study.
2614 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2615 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2616 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
With and out of proportion big Kelp Gull in the foreground.
2617 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
It would be tempting to call this bird a juvenile because of the neat and perfect plumage. However, the species lays eggs in December and the young don't leave the nest until April-May. Therefore it has to be an adult in perfectly fresh plumage. See the other photos from this day, notice than none of these birds show a similarly perfect plumage. A bit strange...
2618 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2619 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2620 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
A bird with a rather strong transition from bright to dark on the neck.
2621 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2622 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2623 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
This bird also looks very fresh in plumage. Compare with 2617. Perhaps the same.
2624 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2625 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2626 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2627 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2628 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Here a bird where only the sides of the undertail are dark, with pure white between the legs. No other bird from this day shows this.
2629 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Feet out and the name finally makes sense.
2630 (3 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
That this bird is a pink-footed I have no reason to doubt, but try to compare it with 2591 photo 5 and see how much it resembles the bird I there call a Wedge-tailed. Hopefully it only shows how similarly they can look, and not that I made a mistake about the Mexican bird...
2631 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Almost jaeger like with pointed hand and high flight.
2632 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2633 (2 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Rather dark underwing on bright bird.
2634 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2635 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
2636 (1 photos) 2018-01-06 Quintero, Región V, Chile
Light morph with a Sooty Shearwater in the background. The Sooty looks somewhat compact for a Sooty, but the bill, which looks uni-colored, and the longish tail exclude both Wedge-tailed and Pink-footed, dark morph. Both of which would also be rare observations.
2587 (1 photos) 2018-04-15 Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca (Oax), Mexico
Strong bill with pinkish base and dark tip, and thicker head and diffuse transition from bright front of the neck to the grayish rear part separates this bird from the more common species in these waters, Wedge-tailed Shearwater. The underwing is of Pink-headed is always variable.
2588 (6 photos) 2018-04-15 Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca (Oax), Mexico
Same comment to identification as with 2587. Further more you can here see that the tail is shorter than the wings, which is the opposite with the Wedge-tailed, except during molt.
2589 (1 photos) 2018-04-15 Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca (Oax), Mexico
Here in the background (blurry) with Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. The size and structure differences are very clear here. See 2588.
2590 (1 photos) 2018-04-15 Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca (Oax), Mexico
Perhaps same as 2589. Again, clearly different from the Wedge-tailed in the foreground.
2591 (6 photos) 2018-04-15 Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca (Oax), Mexico
Here again with several Wedge-tailed. The bird to the right on photo 1,5 and 6 looks rather big for a Wedge-tailed,but I think it's an illusion. In photo 3 there is a dark morph shearwater in the background. It is most likely a Wedge-tailed since the dark morph Pink-footed is very rare. However, the proportions of the bird seem to fit the latter better than the former. Flesh-footed would be a real hit this far south on the Pacific coast.
2592 (3 photos) 2018-04-15 Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca (Oax), Mexico
A bird with more worn primaries and a slimmer look than the other birds this day. However, is still bigger than the Wedge-tailed in photo 1.
Light form. Proportions, poorly marked transition between gray and lighter part of neck. Also strong bill with pale base and dark tip. Saw 4 birds this day.