Justification This species has a small population and breeding range. Over the last three generations (50 years), breeding locations have disappeared and surviving populations have strongly decreased, chiefly as a result of invasive predators, qualifying it as Vulnerable. However, this categorisation is based largely on information from a few studies and further evaluation may result in a reclassification.

Family/Sub-family Hydrobatidae

Species name author (Gmelin, 1789)

Taxonomic source(s) Brooke (2004), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 25 cm. Large, polymorphic storm-petrel with broad rounded wings, lacking obvious bends along leading and trailing edges. Most common morph has brownish-black head, nape, mantle, upperwing and tail but white rump-band and greater-covert wing-bar. Moderately forked tail. White throat, brownish chest band, rest of underparts white. Extensive white on underwing-coverts, otherwise dark underwing. Intermediate morphs show dark flecking on white underparts. Dark morph is entirely sooty-brown. Similar spp. Dark morph similar to but larger than Tristram's Storm Petrel O. tristrami.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

29,600,000 km²

No

Range & population Nesofregetta fuliginosa breeds in the Line and Phoenix Islands (Kiribati), Austral, Society (formerly Tahiti), Gambier and Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia), New Caledonia (to France) (3-4 pairs in 1996-1997¹, although repeated visits in 2007 failed to produce any records and probably extinct there¹⁸), Sala y Gomez (Chile) (100 pairs in 1997¹³) and, historically (perhaps even currently), in Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji. In the Line Islands, c.1,000 pairs were present on Kiritimati (= Christmas Island) in the 1960s and early 1970s⁵ but, in 1993, the population was estimated at several hundred⁸, supported by observations in 1999¹⁴. In the Phoenix Islands, c.1,400 birds were present on Phoenix and McKean Islands⁵. In the Australs, tens of pairs occurred on Rapa and surrounding islets⁶, and the situation was unchanged in 1990¹². In the Gambiers, 100-200 pairs occurred on Motu Teiku and 100-300 pairs on Manui in 1996, but it may have become extinct on two further islands¹¹. In the Marquesas, one pair was found on Ua Pou in 1989¹. No evidence was found of this species during a survey of the historical nesting site of Mt Washington (=Nabukulevu) on Kadavu (Fiji) in August 2004. There has been only one unconfirmed sighting in Fijian waters in the last three decades, and it is thought to be very unlikely that it still breeds in Fiji¹⁶.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It usually nests in loosely-formed colonies throughout the year, peaking at different times on different islands^2,6. Burrows are often dug in sand (and can be extremely fragile)¹, but it also nests under vegetation or in rock-crevices⁶. It feeds on small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans^2,6.

Threats Birds do not appear to survive in the presence of rats or cats^5,6,19. Predation of eggs and small chicks by house mouse Mus musculus⁴, human exploitation² and increasing cultivation of islets, e.g. on Rapa¹, are additional threats.

Conservation measures underway On Kiritimati, a cat eradication programme has failed to limit predation by feral cats outside villages^8,9 but, at Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge (200 miles from Kiritimati), a colonisation programme has been successful and, in March 2000, three N. fuliginosa were observed displaying³. In New Caledonia, the Société calédonienne d'ornithologie is implementing a rat eradication program on 18 islets inculding the site of the only previously known colony in 2007-2008 to restore suitable breeding conditions for the species¹⁷.

Conservation measures proposed Survey all nesting islets⁸ including those off the main Samoan islands¹⁰ and, in particular, McKean which may support the largest population in the world⁷. Eradicate rats and cats from key small islets within its breeding range, e.g. Temoe Island^8,15, and throughout the Line and Phoenix Islands⁷.

References 1. V. Bretagnolle in litt. (1999). 2. Carboneras (1992c). 3. Flint and Aycock (2000). 4. E. Flint in litt. (2000). 5. Garnett (1983). 6. Holyoak and Thibault (1984). 7. A. K. Kepler in litt. (2000). 8. M. Rauzon in litt. (1999). 9. E. A. Schreiber in litt. (1999). 10. SPREP (1999). 11. Thibault and Bretagnolle (1999). 12. Thibault and Varney (1991). 13. Vilina and Gazitua (1999). 14. D. Watling in litt. (1999). 15. G. Wragg in litt. (1999). 16. D. Watling in litt. (2005). 17. V. Chartendrault in litt. (2007). 18. J. Baudat-Franceschi in litt. (2007). 19. Jones et al. (2008).

Text account compilers Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Rachel McClellan (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Helen Temple (BirdLife International)

Contributors Julien Baudat-Franceschi (Société Calédonienne d’Ornithologie), Vincent Bretagnolle (Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé), Vivien Chartendrault (Société Calédonienne d’Ornithologie), Beth Flint (US Fish & Wildlife Service), A. K. Kepler, Mireille Pandolfi, Mark Rauzon, E. A. Schreiber, Dick Watling (Environment Consultants Fiji), G. Wragg

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Nesofregetta fuliginosa. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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