Juan Fernández Petrel
Encyclopedia
The Juan Fernández Petrel, Pétrel De Juan Fernandez, or Peterel De Las Juan Fernádez (Pterodroma externa) is a species of seabird
in the Procellariidae
family.
The Juan Fernández petrel is endemic to one island in Chile, Isla Alejandro Selkirk. The breeding population was estimated at 1,000,000 pairs in 1985-86, and there may be up to 3-5 million birds globally. It is threatened by predation from introduced species (cats and rats) and, to a lesser extent, habitat loss from introduced herbivores (goats). The World Conservation Union (IUCN) assessed this species as Vulnerable due to its endemic status and threats from introduced predators, and it is on BirdLife's Red-list.
Its breeding habitat
is high elevation (750 m+) ridges, where it digs a 2-3 m tunnel to raise one chick per year. Females lay a single, white egg in mid-November and both birds in a pair will take turns incubating the egg for approx. 60 days. The chick hatches in mid-February and is fed by both parents for approximately 90-100 days before fledging in May. The chick remains underground in the burrow until it has reached fledgling mass and is fully feathered. Chicks are fed a diet consisting mainly of fish and squid that are brought up to the nest from sea level by the parents.
During the breeding season, the Juan Fernández petrel is found foraging in waters surrounding Isla Alejandro Selkirk and Isla Robinson Crusoe, as well as coastal Chile. The birds can be found in flocks with pink-footed shearwaters and other seabirds. During the non-breeding season, Juan Fernández petrels forage in the equatorial currents and counter currents, north to the Hawaiian Islands.
Previously, the Juan Fernández petrel was a sub-species of the white-necked petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis), which is found in the Tropical Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
in the Procellariidae
Procellariidae
The family Procellariidae is a group of seabirds that comprises the fulmarine petrels, the gadfly petrels, the prions, and the shearwaters. This family is part of the bird order Procellariiformes , which also includes the albatrosses, the storm-petrels, and the diving petrels.The procellariids are...
family.
The Juan Fernández petrel is endemic to one island in Chile, Isla Alejandro Selkirk. The breeding population was estimated at 1,000,000 pairs in 1985-86, and there may be up to 3-5 million birds globally. It is threatened by predation from introduced species (cats and rats) and, to a lesser extent, habitat loss from introduced herbivores (goats). The World Conservation Union (IUCN) assessed this species as Vulnerable due to its endemic status and threats from introduced predators, and it is on BirdLife's Red-list.
Its breeding habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is high elevation (750 m+) ridges, where it digs a 2-3 m tunnel to raise one chick per year. Females lay a single, white egg in mid-November and both birds in a pair will take turns incubating the egg for approx. 60 days. The chick hatches in mid-February and is fed by both parents for approximately 90-100 days before fledging in May. The chick remains underground in the burrow until it has reached fledgling mass and is fully feathered. Chicks are fed a diet consisting mainly of fish and squid that are brought up to the nest from sea level by the parents.
During the breeding season, the Juan Fernández petrel is found foraging in waters surrounding Isla Alejandro Selkirk and Isla Robinson Crusoe, as well as coastal Chile. The birds can be found in flocks with pink-footed shearwaters and other seabirds. During the non-breeding season, Juan Fernández petrels forage in the equatorial currents and counter currents, north to the Hawaiian Islands.
Previously, the Juan Fernández petrel was a sub-species of the white-necked petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis), which is found in the Tropical Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.