Bruce Helmboldt wrote:

> If some species are found all over the world (or northern
> hemisphere, or wherever), are they more abundant in absolute
> numbers than a "local" species? What is the most abundant bird in
> the world? Would it be a pelagic...


David G. Campbell suggests in his book "The Crystal Desert" that Wilson's
Storm Petrels may be the most abundant bird in the world - untold numbers
live in both the arctic and the antarctic as well as the oceans in
between. I think it would have to be a pelagic because of the abundance
of that particular habitat over any other.

While birding around Australia, my husband and I often speculated over
relative abundance - are there more magpies or house sparrows in
Australia? More budgies or more red-necked stints? It's a fun game but
one that you never really can tell the answers to. Are there more
starlings or more crows in Seattle? More house cats or more squirells?
The possibilities are endless... A good road-trip game.

BTW I can really recommend Campbell's book - but watch out! It will make
you want to go to Antarctica - start saving now!

Cheers,

Becca Knox