Noteworthy seabird records from Paraná state, southern Brazil

Abstract

We inventoried seabird specimens—skeletons and skins—collected during beach surveys of Parana, south Brazil, both the mainland coast and offshore islets during the period 1992–94. We found 184 specimens comprising four orders and 17 species. This represents the most important collection of seabirds from Parana and includes three new records for the state, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris borealis, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus and Snowy Sheathbill Chionis albus. We recommend the removal of two species from the avifauna of Parana—Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta and Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila vittata—due to the lack of tangible evidence. All of this material is held in publicly accessible natural history museums.