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Case Summary for:
Submission No 203: Common Paradise Kingfisher Tanysiptera galatea, Stephens Island. Queensland, 15th March 1993 (Unpublished) Verdict: Not Accepted This submission clearly describes a Tanysiptera type kingfisher observed to within 20 m range while perched for 2-3 minutes. Striking features noted include a pink bill, white breast and long white central tail feathers. Also documented is the habitat of Stephens Island which is described as an Island of 53ha, volcanic in origin and largely covered with evergreen coastal scrub dominated by Indian Almond Terminalia catappa and Coconut Cocos nucifera. This record is certainly highly suggestive of T. galatea, however, given the very brief description and the fact that no further corroborative evidence has been provided, the committee concluded that even though clear views of the bird were obtained, a more detailed description is required for acceptance as a first record for Australia. On the information submitted, the Committee felt they were unable to conclusively exclude T. hydrocharis (also known from the Transfly area of Papua New Guinea) or, as one member pointed out, even a leucistic example of T. sylvia beyond all reasonable doubt. However, as pointed out in the submission, the geographic position of this sighting and the fact that Draffan (Sunbird 9:11, 1978) also reported Tanysiptera galatea from Darnley Island, Torres Strait amount to growing evidence that this species may in fact occur as vagrant to Australia. Although we do not find in favour of acceptance, the Committee notes that both this submission and the previous one from Draffan (RAC case no. 44) be regarded as highly probable.
References and Bibliography
Tony Palliser |