Magellanic Diving-Petrel
Pelecanoides magellani
Procellariiformes Order – Pelecanoididae Family
INTRODUCTION:
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel is found in southern Chile, Tierra del Fuego and southern Argentina, where it frequents the coastal waters and fjords, up to 125-130 km from the shore.
It forages and feeds in coastal and nearshore waters. The diet includes aquatic invertebrates and small fish caught by diving from the air or from the water surface.
It nests in a burrow protected by the vegetation, usually on small coastal islands. It nests in colonies where it is strictly nocturnal, to avoid predation by gulls and skuas.
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel is threatened by predation by invasive species and by human disturbances at the breeding sites, involving a slow decline of the population. But currently, the species is not globally threatened.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length: 19-22 cm
Wingspan: 32 cm
Weight: M: 158-163 g – F: 145-174 g
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel is a compact bird, black above and white below.
The upperparts are black, including upperwing and uppertail. In fresh plumage, the black is glossier, and back and upper rump show narrow, pale grey feather tips. The outermost upperwing-coverts have narrow, whitish tips. The central row of scapulars is grey and tipped white, and may form a pale line, less visible in worn plumage.
In fresh plumage, the rectrices show narrow, whitish tips. On the wings, the white tips of secondaries are often more conspicuous than in other species.
On the underparts, the flight-feathers are grey with white tips to secondaries. The underwing-coverts are white, whereas some axillaries are dark grey. The undertail is grey.
Breast, belly, vent and undertail-coverts are white, but breast sides, body sides and rear flanks show some grey spotting.
The head is black and the dark face contrasts strongly with the white underparts. It is separated from the dark pectoral area by a partial, white collar. Chin, throat and neck sides are white.
The bill (15-17 mm) is black with a small, pale area at base of lower mandible.
The eyes are dark brown.
Legs and webbed feet are pale blue, but webs and soles are grey to blackish.
Male and female are similar. This species differs from the Common Diving-Petrel by the extensive white half-collar behind the dark ear-coverts.
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel seems to moult all the flight-feathers at once, and it is flightless for some weeks. But the bird is still able to dive and capture prey. The adults have a post-nuptial moult from April to June.
The juvenile lacks the white fringes on the upperparts, involving more uniform appearance. The bill is weaker than in adults.
RANGE:
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel is found at the extreme tip of South America, on islands and fjords of S Chile, S Argentina and Tierra del Fuego.
HABITAT:
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel forages in coastal waters and breeds on small, nearshore islands in coastal channels and fjords. They dig the nesting burrow in the soft soil where some vegetation protects the entrance.
CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
Like its close relative the Common Diving-Petrel, the Magellanic Diving-Petrel is usually silent at sea. It becomes vocal at the breeding colonies at night, both in flight and inside the burrow, and we can hear whistles, squeaks and groans.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel feeds mainly on small crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates such as copepods, amphipods and plankton. It also takes small fish by diving from the air or from the water surface. They usually forage in coastal, nearshore waters.
The diving-petrels pursue strongly their prey underwater. They propel themselves with their wings and steer with the tail. They are strong swimmers, capable of diving up to three metres deep while pursuing prey.
When feeding the chicks, they store the food in their gular pouch.
The breeding behaviour of this species is poorly known. They breed in dense colonies on small coastal islands. They nest in burrow dug in the soft soil and protected by vegetation.
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel is monogamous. Both adults share all the nesting duties. They are social at breeding colonies. The species is often seen alone, or in small group outside of breeding season.
They visit the colony at night to avoid predation, and rest in the nesting burrow.
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel is presumed sedentary. Some dispersal movements are observed over adjacent coastal waters. The species has been found up to 128 km from land. There are four records in the Falkland Islands.
This species, as other diving-petrel species, is not a very good walker. The flight is direct while the bird performs fast flapping, very close to the water surface. The wings are short, involving a highly whirring flight.
In addition to flying low over the water, the bird also flies through the crests of the waves while following its flight path.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel lays the eggs in November-December, and fledglings can be seen in March.
The species is monogamous. It breeds in dense colonies on coastal, channel islands throughout the range. It nests in burrow or crevice within fine screes, hill slopes and cliffs. It is nocturnal at the colony, and rests in the burrow.
Both adults dig the burrow in soft soil and overhanging vegetation to mask and protect the entrance.
The female lays a single, white egg. Both adults share the incubation by taking turns and going out to sea to feed. The period of parental care is long, lasting around 45 to 60 days in the burrow. The parents also take turns to feed the chick by regurgitation. They bring the food in their gular pouch.
Once the chick fledges out to sea, it is on its own. It will be sexually mature at 2-3 years of age.
Then, the adults go into a post-nuptial moult.
PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel is presumed to be affected by predation by invasive species, especially rats, and human activities such as guano harvests. However, the remote areas where the breeding colonies are established are probably less affected by human disturbances.
The population is estimated to number 6,700-330,000 mature individuals. It is suspected to be decreasing slowly, but the species is not globally threatened at the moment.
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel is currently evaluated as Least Concern.
Fr: Puffinure de Magellan
Ang: Magellanic Diving-Petrel
All: Magellan-Lummensturmvogel
Esp: Potoyunco Magallánico
Ita: Petrello tuffatore di Magellano
Nd: Magelhaenalkstormvogeltje
Sd: magellansk dykpetrell
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD vol 1 by Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliot-Jordi Sargatal - Lynx Edicions - ISBN: 8487334105
A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife by Hadoram Shirihai and Illustrated by Brett Jarrett - Edited by Guy M. Kirwan - ALUL.A Press Oy, Finland - ISBN 9519894705
Fatbirder - The World’s Richest Information Resource about Birds for Birders
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