Stejneger's Petrel

Stejneger's petrel, a seabird of the gadfly petrels group, is a medium-sized bird with a body length ranging from 26 to 31 centimeters and a wingspan extending from 53 to 66 centimeters. It is named in honor of the Norwegian ornithologist Leonhard Hess Stejneger.

Identification Tips

This species can be identified by its size and the characteristic flight pattern typical of gadfly petrels. Observers should note its wingspan and the way it traverses the ocean skies, rarely seen near land except during breeding season.

Habitat

Stejneger's petrel is a highly pelagic bird, favoring the open ocean. It only approaches land to nest and rear its young.

Distribution

The bird is found in the Pacific Ocean, with its nesting grounds located on the Cerro de Los Inocentes mountain in the Juan Fernández Islands off Chile. It is also a transequatorial migrant that travels to subtropical waters off Japan and has been spotted well off the west coast of the United States.

Behaviour

This petrel is known for its long-distance migrations and its nesting habits in burrows. It prefers slopes and ridges covered in dense fern forests for its breeding sites.

Conservation status

The population of Stejneger's petrel is on the decline, primarily due to predation by introduced cats on its breeding islands. Consequently, it is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with concerns heightened by its restricted breeding range.