Proposal (75) to South American Classification Committee

Separate Pterodroma sandwichensis from P. phaeopygia (i.e., Hawaiian from Galapagos [Dark-rumped] Petrel)

Tomkins and Milne (1991) presented information suggesting that the Galapagos and Hawaiian populations of Dark-rumped Petrel might be distinct at the species (rather than subspecies) level. Galapagos birds are 16% larger, but Hawaiian birds lay eggs that are 18% larger. (Presumably Hawaiian females make louder squeals during egg-laying.) Black markings on the white forehead are variable (sometimes lacking) in Galapagos birds but are lacking in Hawaiian birds. Hawaiian birds have a short, well-defined nesting period, but Galapagos birds have an extended, almost-always nesting period (but there are several island colonies). And, sonograms of the two populations are said to be very different. However, Tomkins and Milne (1991: 12) show sonograms, and Simons (1985:236) show sonograms, but I find them impossible to compare. There is no evidence (but there is speculation) that they occur together in non-breeding times. This 1991 paper was apparently convincing enough that Sibley and Monroe split the species in 1993. [Why Burt did not do that for the Check-list is another continuing mystery. He kept them as groups.] They used the names Hawaiian Petrel and Galapagos Petrel, maintaining Dark-rumped for the combination.

Browne et al. (1997) summarized the above and did allozyme electrophoresis on blood from members of the two populations (no voucher specimens). They found one fixed allelic difference between them, out of 13 loci. They say this "supports" their recent elevation to species status by S&M. This paper also summarizes morphological differences and mentions vocal differences.

One of the coauthors of Browne et al. (1997) was also a coauthor of the BNA account on Pterodroma phaeopygia (Simons and Hodges 1998). The Condor article was submitted in Dec. 1996, accepted April 1997, and in the August issue. The BNA account was submitted in Jan. 1997, published in 1998. Thus, work on the two papers was simultaneous. However, the BNA account makes NO mention of the genetic work, and the possible specific status of the two forms was downplayed. That is very interesting.

Pratt and Pratt (2001) recognize sandwichensis at the species level.

Recommendation: I think we should split these populations into species.

References

Browne, R. A. et al. 1997. Condor 99:812-815.

Pratt and Pratt. 200l. SAB on Hawaii

Sibley and Monroe 1993. Supplement

Simons, T. R. 1985. Condor 87:229-245. Re Hawaiian birds

Simons and Hodges. 1998. BNA 345

Tompkins, R. J., and B. J. Milne. 1991. Notornis 38: 1-35.

Richard C. Banks

Addendum from Remsen: No one on AOU CLC, including Dick, was impressed one way or another on the evidence either way on this one, but in the end, we decided unenthusiastically to go with the split because there seemed to be less evidence for considering them the same species than for considering them separate (and recognizing that the original lump of the two was probably based on "data-free" opinion.) We fearfully assumed that the described differences in voices are OK, and we were impressed with the differences in reproductive biology between them.

Ridgway described sandwichensis as distinct species. Of interest is that Jouanin & Mougin (1979) ("Peters") considered sandwichensis a "doubtfully distinct" species, and this was repeated by Carboneras (1992) ("HBW"); this influenced Dickinson (2003) to recognize them only as subspecies (and that's the genesis of SACC's current classification).

[I haven't checked to see if more recent data have been published -- please chime in if you know of some.]

References:

CARBONERAS, C. 1992b. Family Procellariidae (petrels and shearwaters). Pp. 216-257 in "Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 1" (J. del Hoyo et al., eds.). Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

JOUANIN, C., AND J.-L. MOUGIN. 1979. Order Procellariiformes. Pp. 48-121 in "Check-list of birds of the World, Vol. 1, Second Edition" (Mayr, E. & G. W. Cottrell, eds.). Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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Comments from Robbins: "[YES]. I did not appreciate how weak the data are for this split, but given that it is suggestive and everyone has been splitting these I guess we should follow. Thus, I vote "yes" for recognizing them as two species."

Comments from Stiles: "This is one I'd love to abstain on, but if passing the buck isn't to be allowed, I will most reluctantly vote YES, largely because the AOU checklist committee did so (and as "hijito", it might not be good to flout "Papa's" decisions, however off-base we might consider them - and I do think this was not one of their wiser decisions). I am decidedly skeptical about using genetic analysis to decide species-level questions, especially if sampling was not dense, and the breeding-season argument cuts both ways - there are a number of cases of seabird populations on different islands differing in breeding seasonality - Sooty Tern comes to mind). A more thorough statistical analysis of both vocalizations and measurements would also help."

Comments from Zimmer: "YES, although the evidence is weak."

Comments from Jaramillo: "YES. I think that Procellariiformes will give Scytalopus a run for their money in the end. This is a not a group that tends towards divergence in plumage pattern, and my guess is that many taxa currently classified as subspecies are probably good and very well differentiated species. Admittedly this is a gut feeling more than anything, but as soon as more vocal data are available, and when a careful molecular analysis is performed on the group we may end up being surprised at the results. I will stop there and just say that I am comfortable with this split."

Comments from Nores: "YES. Acepto reconocer a Pterodroma sandwichensis como especie. Aunque cabe reconocer que la evidencia es liviana y el trabajo genético que ser fuerte, tiene la contradicción (o falta de aceptación del coautor) indicada por Richard."