First record of the Austral Negrito (Aves: Passeriformes) from the South Shetlands, Antarctica

• Published in: Polish Polar Research
• Main Authors: Gryz Piotr, Korczak−Abshire Małgorzata, Gerlée Alina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Academy of Sciences 2015
• Subjects: Antarctica; King George Island; avifauna monitoring; Lessonia rufa; vagrant birds; Geology; QE1-996.5; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Austral; South Shetland Islands; Lions Rump; Antarc*; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/popore-2015-0018; https://doaj.org/article/770da5ffc4fb41899788e2196f984f9d

The order Passeriformes is the most successful group of birds on Earth, however, its representatives are rare visitors beyond the Polar Front zone. Here we report a photo-documented record of an Austral Negrito (Lessonia rufa), first known occurrence of this species in the South Shetland Islands and only the second such an observation in the Antarctic region. This record was made at Lions Rump, King George Island, part of the Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 151 (ASPA 151). There is no direct evidence of how the individual arrived at Lions Rump, but ship assistance cannot be excluded.