Juan Fernandez Petrel
Pterodroma externa
Large, rather long-tailed, and relatively big-billed petrel of offshore subtropical and tropical waters in the eastern and central Pacific; not seen from mainland. Named for Juan Fernandez Islands in Chile, where the species breeds. Main identification features are relatively large size, gleaming white underparts with small black “comma” on bend of underwing, and dark cap blending into gray of hindneck. Upperparts show darker “M” pattern common to many petrels. Much larger than Masatierra Petrel and other small petrels.
Identification
Large, rather long-tailed, and relatively big-billed petrel of offshore subtropical and tropical waters in the eastern and central Pacific; not seen from mainland. Named for Juan Fernandez Islands in Chile, where the species breeds. Main identification features are relatively large size, gleaming white underparts with small black “comma” on bend of underwing, and dark cap blending into gray of hindneck. Upperparts show darker “M” pattern common to many petrels. Much larger than Masatierra Petrel and other small petrels.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pterodroma; Family: Procellariidae; Order: Procellariiformes.
- Scientific name
- Pterodroma externa
- Authority
- (Salvin, 1875)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Pterodroma
Range and habitat
Breeding range: PO : montane Alejandro Selkirk (=Mas Afuera, Juan Fernandez Is., far w of c Chile). Non-breeding range: to tropical Pacific around main Hawaiian Is..
- Breeding range
- PO : montane Alejandro Selkirk (=Mas Afuera, Juan Fernandez Is., far w of c Chile)
- Non-breeding range
- to tropical Pacific around main Hawaiian Is.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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