MATSUDAIRA'S STORM-PETREL Hydrobates matsudairae

One of a number of dark-rumped Storm-petrels which cause identification headaches, particularly with lone birds away from their breeding areas. Breeding on the Volcano Islands, and possibly also the Bonins, it is sympatric with Swinhoe's. Larger, with a relatively longer forked tail, it can usually be identified by obvious white primary bases, but these can also be shown by Swinhoe's, to a lesser extent. Both species disperse south and into the Indian Ocean, although there are records of Swinhoes in the North Atlantic, and it may breed there. I haven't knowingly photographed Swinhoe's, but have one or two suspicious shots that were taken in a mixed flock. These shots were taken around the latitude of Bonin, well offshore.


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