Trans-Atlantic vagrancy of Palearctic birds in Trinidad and Tobago

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Martyn Kenefick
Floyd E. Hayes

Abstract: We summarize the status of 14 species of birds (pelagic seabirds excluded) breeding primarily in the Old World and occurring as trans-Atlantic vagrants in Trinidad and Tobago. We report details for three species new to Trinidad and Tobago: Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), and Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea). We also provide photographs for three species of birds previously undocumented by either a specimen or photograph in South America: Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), and Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus). In addition we summarize records of three species reported from Trinidad and Tobago but considered by us to be inadequately documented, and records of two widespread boreal species derived from Palearctic populations.


Keywords: bird migration, Caribbean, distributional records, Palearctic bird vagrants, South America, trans-Atlantic vagrancy, Trinidad and Tobago


Resumen: Aves paléarticas como transeúntes transatlánticos en Trinidad y Tobago-  Resumimos el estado de 14 especies de aves (excluyendo las aves marinas pelágicas) que crían primariamente en el Viejo Mundo y que aparecen como transeúntes transatlánticos en Trinidad y Tobago. Se brindan por primera vez, los detalles de tres especies nuevas para Trinidad y Tobago: Ardea purpurea, Falco tinnunculus y Calidris ferruginea. También se publican por primera vez las fotografías de tres especies de aves que no habían sido documentadas en Suramérica ni con fotos ni con especimenes colectados: Platalea leucorodia, Tringa glareola y Larus ridibundus. Además resumimos los registros de tres especies reconocidas en Trinidad y Tobago pero que se consideraban que estaban documentadas inadecuadamente y dos registros de subespecies paleárticas que pertenecen a especies boreales de amplia distribución.


Palabras clave: aves transeúntes paleárticas, migración de aves, registros de distribución, Suramérica, transeúntes trasatlánticos, Trinidad y Tobago


Résumé: Erratisme transatlantique d’oiseaux paléarctiques à Trinité et Tobago- Nous avons fait une synthèse du statut de 14 espèces d’oiseaux (espèces pélagiques exclues) nichant principalement dans l’Ancien Mondes observées en tant qu’erratiques transatlantiques à Trinité et Tobago. Des détails sont donnés pour 3 espèces nouvelles: Le Héron pourpre (Ardea purpurea), le Faucon crécerelle (Falco tinnunculus) et le Bécasseau cocorli (Calidris ferruginea). Nous fournissons des photographies de 3 autres espèces pour lesquelles aucun spécimen ou photographie e sont disponibles pour l’Amérique du sud : la Spatule d’Europe (Platalea leucorodia), le Chevalier sylvain (Tringa glareola), et la Mouette rieuse (Larus ridibundus). Nous faisons également une synthèse des observations à Trinité et Tobago de 3 espèces que nous considérons comme incorrectement documentées ainsi que des observations pour les populations paléarctiques de 2 espèces boréales largement répandues.


Mots clés: Amérique du sud, Caraïbe, erratisme transatlantique, migration, observation de distribution, oiseaux paléarctiques erratiques, Trinité et Tobago

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