| י27) פיתון ים-סוף | ||||||||||
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:פתון ים-סוף . צבעו ברובו לבן, קצות כנפיו שחורים וגופו מפוספס . פס עינו שחור וזנבו דק וארוך מגופו . בשעת מעופו טופח בכנפיו כמו יונה . בית גידולו ימים טרופיים וסבטרופיים בעיקר אוקינוסים . מקנן על צוקים לא נגישים באיים קטנים מרוחקים . בארץ מבקר מזדמן במפרץ אילת | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
P. a. aethreus S Atlantic. P. a. mesonauta E Pacific, Carivvean and E Atlantic. P. a. indicus Persian Gulf of Aden, Red Sea. | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
90-105 cm;700 g, wingspan 99-106 cm. Largest tropicbird; black mask slightly larger than in other species and sometimes joined across nape in worn plumage. Streamers of male average longer than those of female. Juvenile has yellow bill, lacks tail streamers, and black eyestripes meet on nape; otherwise resembles adult. Race mesonauta probably shorter-winged, has rosy flush in fresh plumage, and the dark areas of upper parts and flight-feathers are blacker; race indicus smaller, has orange bill with black cutting edges, and smaller black mask. Habitat. Tropical and subtopical seas; mainly pelagic. Breeds on small, remote oceanic islands; prefers inaccessible spot on cliff, where take-off relatively easy. Food and Feeding Mostly small fish, especially flying-fish, also squid. Diet varies locally, squid apparently mor important in Indian Ocean populations. Most prey caught by plunge-diving, but flying-fish sometimes taken in flight. Breeding. Season in places, elsewhere can be more or less continuous. Loosely colonial Nest is in rocky crevice, or scrape on ground; little or no material. 1 egg; incubation 42-44 days, chicks hatch with grey down, fledging 80-90 days. Age of sexual maturity unkown. Oldest ringed bird at least 10 years old. Movements. No regular migration; some adults can be seen vicinity of colonies all year round. Extensive dispersal, especially of juveniles, often over waters fairly near breeding grounds, birds from Cape Verde Is. move to areas of upwilling off W Africa; but many disperse much further out to sea, and adults from Galapagos known to wander some 1500 km. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatend. Probably least numerous of tropicbirds, and may numbers under 10,000 pairs. Israel. In Israel subspecies P. a. indicus.. Accidental visitor, observed Eilat, Arava and Ded Sea. |
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