Juan Fernández petrel

The Juan Fernández petrel is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. It nests on a single island off the coast of Chile, in the Juan Fernández Archipelago. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the white-necked petrel, which is found in tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

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Distribution

Region

Southeast Pacific Ocean

Typical Environment

Breeds in burrows at high elevations on Alejandro Selkirk Island, then disperses widely over the eastern and central Pacific. At sea it occupies pelagic waters far from land, often along oceanic fronts and productive upwellings such as the Humboldt Current. It forages across tropical to subtropical waters and may travel thousands of kilometers during the nonbreeding season. Nearshore appearances are rare except when returning to colonies at night.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1200 m

Climate Zone

Subtropical

Characteristics

Size40–43 cm

Wing Span95–105 cm

Male Weight0.52 kg

Female Weight0.46 kg

Life Expectancy25 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

This gadfly petrel breeds only on Alejandro Selkirk Island in the Juan Fernández Archipelago off Chile. Outside the breeding season it ranges widely across the eastern and central Pacific, often over productive upwelling zones. It was once treated as a subspecies of the white-necked petrel but is now recognized as a full species. Major threats include invasive predators at the colony and habitat degradation.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and pelagic at sea; gregarious at colonies

Flight Pattern

dynamic soaring glider with arcing sweeps and interspersed rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Colonial breeder nesting in burrows or rock crevices at high elevations. Mostly nocturnal at the colony to avoid predators. Pairs are monogamous, sharing incubation and chick provisioning. Young remain in burrows until fledging.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Generally silent at sea. At colonies, produces wailing, yapping, and moaning calls at night, with softer coos exchanged between mates at the burrow.

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Identification

Leg Colorpink with blackish outer toes

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Dark grey-brown upperparts with a contrasting white underside and a narrow dark border along the underwing. The head shows a dark hood with a paler forehead and face, and the upperwings display a bold, dark 'M' pattern. Tail and rump are darker, contrasting with clean white underparts.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds mainly on squid, small fish, and crustaceans captured at or near the surface. Often forages along productive upwelling zones and oceanic fronts. May associate with predatory fish or marine mammals that drive prey to the surface. Occasionally takes discards from fishing vessels.

Preferred Environment

Open-ocean pelagic waters far from land, especially over shelf breaks, eddies, and upwelling systems like the Humboldt Current. Rarely seen inshore except near breeding islands.

Population

Total Known PopulationEstimated 800,000–1,200,000 individuals

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