Page 457 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

VAGRANTS
VAGRANTS

he list that follows consists of birds that accepted that even small birds can, with a
Toccur only very rarely in Europe, known following wind, survive a flight across the
as vagrants or accidentals. It also looks a little Atlantic, although they probably do not
further beyond Europe, to list those birds survive long afterwards. Larger species,
whose normal range is the Middle East and however, such as some wildfowl, may live for
North Africa, so covering a total faunal area years in Europe and a few (that have been
known as the Western Palearctic. trapped, ringed, and released in order to
Vagrants to Europe arrive from Asia and follow their movements) have even returned
North America (and fewer from Africa). to North America in subsequent years.These
Western Europe, especially the UK, is well are not, in any true sense, European birds, but
placed to receive birds that are blown off are included here to complete the range of
course from eastern North America and cross species that have been recorded. Many appear
the Atlantic. It was thought that such birds again, others may not: by their nature these
cross the ocean on board ship, but it is now “accidentals” are unpredictable.

Common Name Scientific Name Family/Scientific Name Description
Ostrich
Ostrich Struthio camelus Ratites/Struthidae Vagrant in North Africa, from
southern Africa
Albatrosses
Shy Albatross Diomedea cauta Albatrosses/Diomedeidae Large seabird from southern
oceans
Yellow-nosed Albatross Diomedea Albatrosses/Diomedeidae Large seabird from southern
chlororhynchos oceans
Black-browed Albatross Diomedea Albatrosses/Diomededae Long-winged seabird from
melanophris South Atlantic
Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans Albatrosses/Diomedeidae Large seabird from southern
oceans
Petrels and Shearwaters
Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata Petrels and Shearwaters/ Large petrel from Caribbean
Procellariidae
Atlantic Petrel Pterodroma incerta Petrels and Shearwaters/ Large petrel from South Atlantic
Procellariidae
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis Petrels and Shearwaters/ Large petrel from South Atlantic
Procellariidae
Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae Petrels and Shearwaters/ Large, rare petrel from Madeira
Procellariidae
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira Petrels and Shearwaters/ Large, rare petrel from Madeira
Procellariidae
Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii Petrels and Shearwaters/ Dark, long-tailed petrel from
Procellariidae mid-Atlantic islands
Streaked Shearwater Calonectris Petrels and Shearwaters/ Vagrant in Middle East, from
leucomelas Procellariidae tropical oceans
Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes Petrels and Shearwaters/ All-dark shearwater from
Procellariidae Indian Ocean
Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri Petrels and Shearwaters/ Small shearwater from
Procellariidae Indian Ocean

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