Pink-footed Shearwater
Ardenna creatopus
Large shearwater, often messy-looking with smudgy brown neck and underwings. Underparts are usually fairly clean white, but sometimes mottled brownish or rarely all-dark. Look for pink bill with dark tip; namesake pink feet are hard to see. Relatively slow, lazy wingbeats compared with other shearwaters, with high arcs in strong wind. Common and widespread in the eastern Pacific, from Alaska to Chile. Occasionally seen from land, but prefers to stay offshore. Often gathers in large flocks, freely mixing with other species of shearwater.
Identification
The pink-footed shearwater (Ardenna creatopus) is a species of seabird. The bird is 48 cm (19 in) in length, with a 109 cm (43 in) wingspan. It is polymorphic, having both darker- and lighter-phase populations. Together with the equally light-billed flesh-footed shearwater, it forms the Hemipuffinus group, a superspecies that may or may not have an Atlantic relative in the great shearwater. These are large shearwaters which are among those that could be separated in the genus Ardenna. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2021 found very little genetic difference between the pink-footed shearwater and the flesh-footed shearwater (Ardenna carneipes). The authors of the study suggested that these two taxa might be better considered as conspecific. This species is pelagic, occurring in the Pacific Ocean. It predominantly nests on offshore islands off Chile, i.e. Mocha Island. It is a transequatorial migrant, moving toward subarctic waters of the Pacific after raising its young. It is fairly common well off the West Coast of the United States during the country's warmer months. The pink-footed shearwater feeds on mainly fish, squid, and crustaceans. This bird nests in burrows, preferring forested slopes. It is a colonial nester. Numbers of this shearwater have been reduced due to predation by introduced species, such as rats and cats. Some loss of birds also occurs from becoming entangled in fishing gear. The pink-footed shearwater is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels applies.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ardenna; Family: Procellariidae; Order: Procellariiformes.
- Scientific name
- Ardenna creatopus
- Authority
- (Coues, 1864)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Ardenna
Range and habitat
Breeding range: PO : e South Pacific Ocean islands off Chile: Santa Clara and Morro Vinilla (sw of Robinson Crusoe), Robinson Crusoe (=Mas a Tierra; Juan Fernandez Is., far w of c Chile) and Isla Mocha (just w of sc Chile). Non-breeding range: inshore and coastal e Pacific Ocean waters to s Chile and n to Gulf of Alaska.
- Breeding range
- PO : e South Pacific Ocean islands off Chile: Santa Clara and Morro Vinilla (sw of Robinson Crusoe), Robinson Crusoe (=Mas a Tierra; Juan Fernandez Is., far w of c Chile) and Isla Mocha (just w of sc Chile)
- Non-breeding range
- inshore and coastal e Pacific Ocean waters to s Chile and n to Gulf of Alaska
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Raso Skylark
Alauda razae
Found only on Raso Island of the Cape Verdes. Overall grayish-brown and moderately streaked including the breast. Note the large and heavy bill. Sometimes erects small crest. Belongs to the same genus as Eurasian Skylark, but is smaller with shorter wings and tail than Eurasian Skylark. Found along dry riverbeds on flat plains. Song is similar to that of Crested Lark. Call a short rattle, "Chureep."
Black-breasted Boatbill
Machaerirhynchus nigripectus
A fairly small, broad-billed bird of montane forest and edge. Yellow underparts and face with large black chest patch, black upperparts with white wing and undertail markings. Similar to Goldenface and Yellow-breasted Boatbill but the latter is found at lower elevations and both lack the black breast spot. A forceful, slightly wheezy, whistled series, often rising. Phrases interspersed with harsh “jak-jak-jak!” notes.
Crowned Eagle
Stephanoaetus coronatus
A large, boldly-marked, crested eagle with a long tail and broad wings, resembling a massive goshawk. The underparts of the adult are blotched and barred black-and-white; there is also a variable rufous wash across the breast. The pale immature has creamy-tan underwings. It is resident in thicker woodland and lowland, montane, and riverine forest, where it hunts monkeys and other small-to-medium-sized vertebrates. It has an undulating display flight coupled with a loud “wheee-yooo, wheee-yooo, wheee-yooo” call that often draws attention. Juvenile Crowned and Martial eagles are similar, but the Crowned has buffier underparts (and underwings), spotted flanks, and broader bars on the tail.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.