The next two species are closely related, and the differences
are not as clear-cut as the names suggest. Both are more or less circumpolar, although White bellied is
usually absent from the Eastern Indian ocean. This taxon is a subtropical breeder, whereas Black-bellied
is a subantarctic breeder, they do meet frequently as Black-bellied disperses further north.
The problems of identification preclude a more accurate understanding of their distributions, and at least two
subspecies may be good splits, especially titan which breeds only on Rapa in the central Pacific.
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HOMEPAGE
