Possible Great-winged Petrel

[Michael Szabo]

There's a very interesting debate at the moment on the 'Seabirds and Pelagics Australia' Facebook group on the identification of Great-faced Petrel and Grey-faced Petrel.

Kevin Bartram comments: "GWP can have paler areas around the face, but not so contrasty and not so much on the forehead".

Here's the link to his photo post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/9571999 ... 4545874104

Here's another link to a photo post by William Betts showing a pale-bellied bird: https://www.facebook.com/groups/9571999 ... 8806707676

[Steve Wood]

In relation to the link from Tim, and for the few of us that aren't on facebook, here is some interesting examples seen on the Louisville ridge 2014 Feb.
Of obscure Grey faced Pets.

Odd Grey Faced Petrels Louisville Sea mount Feb. 2014.jpg (290.4 KiB) Viewed 523 times

[Steve Wood]

Here is a an example of what I would have said was a good example of the two similar species - Grey faced and Great winged.(right)
Grey faced - March NZ and assumed Great winged Feb -SW pacific 230 miles east of NZ.
However separating Great winged from fresh fledged Grey faced is possibly going to cause more confusion especially if the bird is claimed in NZ waters.
Location and timing will probable help to play a key role in suggesting the true ID. Of similar looking birds in the future.
Some comments I have received have suggested that the bird on the right would have been excepted as Great winged if seen off South Australia.

1) lesser bill size.
2) Steep forehead.
3) Dark eye patch.
4) Minimal paleness around throat and chin.

All the boxs are ticked for Great winged I believe.

BD018DA3-5EFC-463E-8B12-F81B0B48F2AB.png (2.86 MiB) Viewed 411 times

[Michael Szabo]

Fyi - here's the discussion about this bird on the 'Seabirds and Pelagics Australia' Facebook page over the past few days:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/9571999 ... 589265031/