Neotropical Birding and Conservation

Homepage - Neotropical Birding and Conservation

Thanks to Accent Design for the work and BWWC Foundation for the funding, we have a new website. If you care about the birds of the Neotropics, have a look at neotropicalbirdingandconservation.org Join to get our journals and support conservation across the region. #birdsmatter #neotropicalbirding

Homepage - Neotropical Birding and Conservation

New Neotropical Birding and Conservation website is up and running. If you want to help conserve the birds of the American tropics please consider joining, donating—or just spreading the word! @neobirdconserve.bsky.social neotropicalbirdingandconservation.org #ornithology

Sneak preview of the cover of Neotropical Birding 38, due out March 2026. Thanks Andy & Gill Swash for this stunning Blue-eyed Ground Dove image. Need more? Join Neotropical Birding & Conservation for two issues a year plus Cotinga, our scientific journal. www.neotropicalbirdingandconservation.org

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology Abstract Pterodroma hasitata, the Black-capped Petrel (locally known as Diablotin), is the only extant Pterodroma petrel nesting in the Caribbean. The species is listed as globally Endangered by the IUCN and was recently listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Pterodroma hasitata show a phenotypic gradient, ranging from a darker, smaller form to a paler, heavier form, that is reflected in a strong genetic structure. This phylogenetic divergence suggests the existence of at least two distinct breeding populations. We report on pre-breeding movements of two male Pterodroma hasitata, one of each form, tracked by satellite from non-breeding areas in Gulf Stream waters of the western North Atlantic Ocean to breeding locations in Hispaniola in late 2019. Based on a combination of tracking locations, location error classes, battery voltage, and satellite communication schedules, we infer that the light-form petrel visited a nest in central Dominican Republic during 2 to 8 October and 9 to 15 October, and the dark form visited a nest in southeastern Haiti during 9 to 22 November and 29 November to 3 December. This information supports earlier suggestions that Pterodroma hasitata forms breed in allochrony and in allopatry, both of which may be a driver of speciation. Keywords biologging, Black-capped Petrel, breeding allochrony, breeding allopatry, endangered species, Pterodroma hasitata, seabird Resumen El rastreo satelital respalda las hipótesis de alocronía y alopatría reproductivas en Pterodroma hasitata (Petrel Antillano, Diablotín), especie En Peligro de extinción • Pterodroma hasitata, conocida comúnmente como Petrel Antillano (y localmente como Diablotín), es la única especie existente del género Pterodroma que actualmente anida en el Caribe. La especie está clasificada como En Peligro a nivel global por la UICN y ha sido recientemente incluida en la lista de especies en peligro de extinción bajo la Ley de Especies en Peligro de los Estados Unidos. Pterodroma hasitata muestra un gradiente fenotípico que va desde una forma más oscura y de menor tamaño hasta una forma más clara y de mayor peso, lo que se refleja en una marcada estructura genética. Esta divergencia filogenética sugiere la existencia de al menos dos poblaciones reproductoras diferenciadas. En este trabajo informamos sobre los movimientos pre-reproductivos de dos machos de Pterodroma hasitata —uno de cada forma—, rastreados por satélite desde sus áreas no reproductivas en las aguas de la Corriente del Golfo, en el Atlántico noroccidental, hasta sus zonas de cría en La Española a finales de 2019. A partir de una combinación de datos de geolocalización, grupos de error posicional, voltajes de batería y horarios de comunicación satelital, inferimos que el individuo de forma clara visitó un nido en el centro de la República Dominicana entre el 2 y el 8 de octubre y nuevamente del 9 al 15 de octubre; mientras que el individuo de forma oscura visitó un nido en el sureste de Haití del 9 al 22 de noviembre y del 29 de noviembre al 3 de diciembre. Estos resultados respaldan observaciones previas que sugieren que las distintas formas de Pterodroma hasitata se reproducen de manera alocrónica y alopátrica, factores que podrían actuar como motores de especiación. Palabras clave alocronía reproductiva, alopatría reproductiva, ave marina, bioregistro, especie en peligro, Petrel Antillano, Pterodroma hasitata Résumé Le suivi par satellite soutient les hypothèses d'allochronie et d'allopatrie de reproduction chez Pterodroma hasitata (Pétrel diablotin), espèce clasée en danger d'extinction • Pterodroma hasitata, le Pétrel diablotin, est la seule espèce existante du genre Pterodroma à nicher dans la Caraïbe. L’espèce est classée par l’UICN comme en danger au niveau mondial et a récemment été classée comme en danger au titre de la loi américaine sur les espèces menacées (Endangered Species Act). Pterodroma hasitata présente un gradient phénotypique, allant d’une forme plus sombre et plus petite à une forme plus pâle et plus grande, reflété dans une forte structure génétique. Cette divergence phylogénétique suggère l’existence de deux populations reproductrices distinctes. Nous faisons état des déplacements prénuptiaux de deux mâles Pterodroma hasitata (un de chaque forme) suivis par satellite depuis les zones fréquentées en dehors de la période de reproduction dans les eaux du Gulf Stream de l’ouest de l’Atlantique Nord jusqu’aux sites de reproduction à Hispaniola fin 2019. En combinant les localisations par satellite, les classes d’erreurs de localisation, les tensions de batterie et les programmations de communication par satellite, nous pouvons déduire que le pétrel de forme claire a visité un nid dans le centre de la République dominicaine entre le 2 et le 8 octobre et entre le 9 et le 15 octobre, et que le pétrel de forme sombre a visité un nid dans le sud-est d’Haïti entre le 9 et le 22 novembre et entre le 29 novembre et le 3 décembre. Ces informations confortent les suggestions antérieures selon lesquelles les formes de Pétrels diablotins nichent en allochronie et en allopatrie, ce qui peut être un facteur de spéciation. Mots clés allochronie de reproduction, allopatrie de reproduction, bio-logging, espèce en danger, oiseau marin, Pétrel diablotin, Pterodroma hasitata

Satellite tracking supports hypotheses of breeding allochrony and allopatry in the Endangered Pterodroma hasitata (Black-capped Petrel, Diablotin) | jco.birdscaribbean.o... | Journal of Caribbean Ornithology | #ornithology 🪶

Ace colour combination!

YouTube video by British Ornithologists' Club Avian Odyssey 2025

youtu.be/iAoVCYaGvWo

Here is a link to Avian Odyssey which NBC attended back in September. All the regional bird clubs presented along with BOC, the National History Museum, RSPB, BTO, Birdlife International, and the BBC Natural History Unit. Watch out for a similar event in 2026.

Last week I had a couple of days in São Paulo before heading to Belem for COP30 and managed to donate old issues of @neobirdconserve.bsky.social magazines to Instituto Anchieta Grajaú and Ornitomulheres, the Brazilian Female Ornithologists Network. Glad these will not end up in the recycling bin!

Cover of the October issue of Birding magazine

The October issue of Birding magazine just arrived in my mailbox! From birding in Alaska to Columbia, there’s something for everyone.

www.aba.org

Are you in touch with Rob Clay while you are there?

A very enjoyable start to a month birding in Paraguay!
Really enjoyed reacquainting myself with Sporophila Seedeaters, one of my favourite Neotropic Genus! Tawny-bellied Seedeater was the most abundant today, a species I have only seen once before!
@neobirdconserve.bsky.social

BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Bird Migration Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how birds navigate and the risks and benefits of migration

Not strictly Neotropical, but the BBC will be airing In Our Time on Bird Migration, a repeat from 2017, on Thursday 31st October. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

A bit sub-standard James. Must try harder.

Our stand at Avian Odyssey 2025 at @nhm-london.bsky.social Talk this afternoon by @liakajiki.bsky.social on Manakins - the birds, not the shop dummies.

Attending Avian Odyssey at the @nhm-london.bsky.social along with Oriental Bird Club, African Bird Club, OSME, @btobirds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social BOC, BBC Natural History Unit and others.

⏰ Last chance! Join our free webinar 'Bridging the Gaps: Preventing Extinction of the Most Endangered Birds'
📅 Tomorrow, Sept 17 | 4 PM ET

Hear from @jerutter.bsky.social + ABC experts on bold initiatives across Latin America & the Caribbean
RSVP to join live or get the recording:
bit.ly/4mmKhbz

Adelaide's Warbler, by Chris Sloan

Do you know Puerto Rico's other endemic warbler?

Come see this bright yellow-and-gray dart with the buzzy song, the Adelaide’s Warbler, a Puerto Rican endemic also called reinita mariposera. It's a signature target on the ABA Puerto Rico Endemics tour.

If you can make it to London on September 20th, come and hear
@liacanjica.bsky.social
talk about manakins as part of #avianodyssey2025 at the
@nhm-london.bsky.social
Tickets still available via www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/... Attend in person or via livestream.

Thanks everyone who came to our stand at the wonderful event that was MigFest2025. If the stand was empty, we were looking at birds. This little gem was 3m away to the delight of many.

All set up at Migfest. Bring on the crowds. Join us, chat, get some books, win a prize. @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social @colnepointbirder.bsky.social @robertabirder.bsky.social

Only nine more sleeps until #avianodyssey2025 at the @nhm-london.bsky.social Still time to get a ticket.

Car almost packed for #Migfest this weekend, bringing a bit of neotropical excitement to @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social Join, buy books or just pick up some back issues of our journals. You will need a break from the birding at some point. #birding #yorkshire #worldbirding

What an honour to share the stage with so many inspiring colleagues at the coolest venue in London - the NHM!!

Can’t wait to flood the audience with interesting stuff about one of my favourite bird families - Neotropical Manakins 🤩

A great way to spend a saturday. What else were you planning to do? #avianodyssey

Avian Odyssey 2025 | Natural History Museum Journey into the wonderful world of birds with leading conservationists and ornithologists.

We are so looking forward to this event coming up on Saturday 20th September: www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/...

Journey into the wonderful world of birds with leading conservationists and ornithologists with a full day of inspiring talks at the Natural History Museum.

Don't miss out!

🔊 VACANCY

Enjoy #theBOUblog? Join us as Blog Editor!

You'll be responsible for sourcing, editing and publishing content on #theBOUblog & will receive an annual honorarium

Check out the details & apply: bou.org.uk/about-the...

⏰ Deadline: 29 August

#ornithology 🪶

Dr Lia Kajiki will present a talk entitled "A gaze into the curious world of Manakins" on behalf of NBC at Avian Odyssey 2025, at the Natural History Museum in London on Saturday 20th September. Tickets for the day are £10 to attend or £5 for a live feed, available at www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/...

If you want to get your hands on our new macaw pins badges designed by Anna Hughes, head over to www.ukbirdingpins.co.uk/product/grea... Available in Great Green and Scarlet flavours. Thinking about #NorweiganBlue at some point!

Real live birders visiting our stand at @globalbirdfair today. #talkingbirds #neotropicalbirding

Global Birdfair kicking off at Lyndon Top.

All cats indoors. Always.