Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus)

Pink-footed Shearwater

Subspecies

Genus	Species	subspecies	Region	Range
Puffinus	creatopus		PO	e

Genus

Until recently the shearwaters were devided in two genera Calonectris and Puffinus, but based on dna-analysis Penhallurick and Wink (2004) have proposed a splitting of the shearwaters into three genera: Calonectris for the large shearwaters of the Northern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the waters around Japan, Ardenna for a group of large Southern Hemisphere breeders and Puffinus for the smaller shearwaters such as the Manx’ group, Audubon’s and Little Shearwaters. This new taxonomy is now widely accepted, but not by all and is stil subject of discussion.

Physical charateristics

Two common white-bellied shearwaters often associate on the West Coast with the abundant Sootys: Pink-foot is larger
, with a black-tipped pink bill, slower wingbeats; Black-vented is smaller, blacker above, whiter on underwing, with a black bill. It has faster wingbeats.

Listen to the sound of Pink-footed Shearwater

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PROCELLARIIFORMES/Procellariidae/sounds/Pink-footed Shearwater.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

recorded by Alvaro Jaramillo

wingspan min.:	108	cm	wingspan max.:	110	cm
size min.:	47	cm	size max.:	49	cm
incubation min.:	85	days	incubation max.:	95	days
fledging min.:	85	days	fledging max.:	95	days
broods:	1		eggs min.:	1
			eggs max.:	1

Range

Pacific Ocean : East. Puffinus creatopus is an east Pacific seabird that breeds only on Robinson Crusoe and Santa Clara in the Juan Fernandez Islands, and on Isla Mocha off the coast of Arauco, Chile.

Habitat

Open ocean. Mainly found well offshore over relatively shallow waters of continental shelf. Rarely seen from shore, and rarely over deep mid-ocean waters. Nests on islands with soil suitable for nesting burrows.

Reproduction

Breeding behavior not well known. Nests in colonies on islands far off coast of Chile. Active at colonies mostly at dusk and at night. Adults gather near colonies in September; by October, some two months before eggs are laid, pairs may be resting togethe
r in burrows. Mated pairs may call softly in duet, preen each other’s head and neck.
Nest: Site is in burrow underground, often more than 4′ long. Nest chamber may have sparse lining. Most eggs probably laid early December.
Clutch 1 per season. White. Both sexes probably incubate; incubation period not known.
Young: Probably fed by both parents during nocturnal visits; age at first flight not known. Young depart nesting islands in April and May.

Feeding habits

Includes fish and squid. Diet not well known; in addition to fish and squid, probably eats various crustaceans.
Behavior: Forages mostly by plunging into water from flight or diving from surface, and swimming short distance underwater with wings spread; also seizes items while swimming on surface. May follow boats for scraps or offal.

Video Pink-footed Shearwater

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGJVePeZt10

Conservation

This species has a very small breeding range at only three known locations, which renders it susceptible to stochastic events and human impacts. If invasive species, harvesting of chicks, bycatch in fisheries or other factors are found to be causing population declines, then the species would warrant uplisting to Endangered.

Pink-footed Shearwater status Vulnerable

Migration

Breeds on islands off Chile. Seen spring, summer, and fall off West Coast.
Migrates north after breeding, commonly seen off North America’s west coast from May to November, with peak numbers in September. A few seen at other seasons at our latitudes are non-breeders or immatures.

Distribution map

Pink-footed Shearwater distribution range map

Planet of Birds