Animalia Life

Pelecanoides magellani
TAXONOMY
Pelecanoides magellani Gray, 1871, Strait of Magellan. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Magellanic diving-petrel; French: Puffinure de Magellan; German: Magellan-Lummensturmvogel; Spanish: Potoyunco Magallбnico.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
7.5–8 in (19–20 cm), side of neck bears a crescent-shaped half collar.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs only in extreme southern South America, off southernmost Argentina and Chile.
HABITAT
Breeds on oceanic islands and feeds in cold oceans, usually close to breeding sites.
BEHAVIOR
Flies low, direct, and fast, both through the air and in the water.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Dives and swims to feed on small fish and crustaceans.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Lays a single egg in a burrow or crevice. The egg is incubated by both parents.
CONSERVATION STATUS
A locally abundant species.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None other than through economic benefits of birdwatching and ecotourism.

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