Justification 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.

Family/Sub-family Procellariidae

Species name author Coues, 1864

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Brooke (2004), Christidis and Boles (1994), SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996), Turbott (1990)

Synonyms Ardenna creatopus Christidis and Boles (2008)

Identification 48 cm. Large, dull shearwater. Dull greyish-brown head and upperparts. Thinly barred sides of head and neck becoming mottled towards sides of breast. Brownish mottling continues down flanks to merge into bolder brownish lower belly, undertail-coverts and thighs with slight pale mottling. Rest of underparts dull white. Dark mottling on underwing, especially in axillaries, over pale background. Pale pink feet. Yellowish bill with dark tip. Plumage varies between paler and darker morphs. Similar spp. Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus is smaller and more slender with narrower wings, longer tail and thin dark bill.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

40,000

unknown

21,550,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Puffinus creatopus is an east Pacific seabird that breeds only on Robinson Crusoe (a few thousand pairs in 1986 ⁹; 2,750 occupied burrows in 2002 ¹⁰; 8,459 burrows in 2005-06, of which up to 60% (5,075) may be occupied¹¹) and Santa Clara (2,000-3,000 pairs in 1991 ⁹ and 3,470 breeding pairs in 2006 ¹¹) in the Juan Fernández Islands, and on Isla Mocha (13,000-17,000 pairs¹, but possibly up to 25,000 pairs²) off the coast of Arauco, Chile. Combining these sites there may be around 20,000 breeding pairs, which would imply a maximum of 100,000 individuals ¹⁰. It winters in waters off west North America and central Peru from April to November, but a specimen has been taken from the Atlantic coast of Argentina⁴ and there are records from New Zealand and Australia^2,5. Despite probable declines in the past, populations in the Juan Fernández group appear to have been more or less stable though may be declining recently owing to the effects of chick harvesting¹⁴.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Birds arrive at the colonies in late October-November. Eggs are laid in December with fledging and dispersal in late April-early May¹. On Robinson Crusoe, nesting has been recorded in burrows scattered throughout badly eroded, generally sparsely vegetated but occasionally forested habitat at elevations of 150-300 m. On Santa Clara, the species breeds in scattered colonies in eroded terrain at elevations from 15-300m ¹². On Isla Mocha, the colony is in forest (predominant tree Aextoxicon punctatum), with the highest burrow densities along mountain ridges and between the roots of old-growth trees up to 390 m^1,2. It feeds primarily in offshore waters over the continental shelf but also in pelagic waters¹³, mostly on fish (sardines and anchovies⁷), squid and to a lesser extent, crustaceans² .

Threats Predation by cats and coatis on Robinson Crusoe, and cats and dogs on Mocha¹ may be the most significant threat. Additionally, rats predate chicks and eggs on Robinson Crusoe and possibly on Mocha⁶. Chicks are harvested by islanders on Mocha in March-May, with an estimated 20% of all chicks taken in 1998^{1, 14}. European rabbits compete with shearwaters for burrows on Robinson Crusoe but were eradicated from Santa Clara in 2003¹¹. Soil erosion by goats and rabbits affects populations on Robinson Crusoe^1,6. Cattle in one colony on Robinson Crusoe cause soil erosion and burrow collapses¹¹. Erosion due to vegetation loss causes burrow loss on Santa Clara¹¹. Birds have been entangled in fishing gear near colonies and in the non-breeding range^1,2, and this potentially poses a major threat^8,14. Contamination by chemical pollutants (e.g. mercury) may also be a threat⁷, as well are plastic debris and oil pollution.

Conservation measures underway The Juan Fernández Islands were designated as a national park in 1935 (protected from 1967) and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977. The Chilean government began a habitat restoration programme in 1997⁶ and the islands have been nominated for World Heritage listing³. The distribution on Robinson Crusoe and Santa Clara was determined in 2006, thought the results not yet published. The colony on Mocha is within a national reserve, which has had a management plan since 1998 and two reserve guards^1,6. Harvesting of chicks is illegal¹ although it is unenforced. The species is listed as a Species of Common Conservation Concern by the Commission for Environmental Conservation (CEC). In 2007, Chile and Canada created national conservation plans for the species.

Conservation measures proposed Remove all introduced mammals, initially within a feasibility study area². Determine breeding population estimate for Isla Mocha, taking into account burrow occupancy. Conduct quantitative assessment of population-level impacts of chick harvesting and reduce chick harvesting¹. Replant native flora, initially within the feasibility study area but also at forest edges, using exclosures on Robinson Crusoe². Enforce grazing restrictions on national park land. Plant fast-growing, soil-binding trees along highly eroded slopes for short-term relief. Assess the threat posed by the fishing industry, especially in Chilean waters⁸ and along migration routes, particularly in Peruvian waters. Establish and maintain a population monitoring programme for Juan Fernández and Mocha breeding populations. Clarify the severity of threats faced in the non-breeding range. Build capacity for research and at-sea monitoring in Mexico.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Guicking (1999). 2. D. Guicking and P. H. Becker in litt. (1999). 3. Hulm (1995). 4. Mazar Barnett and Navas (1998). 5. Patterson (1991). 6. J. C. Torres-Mura in litt. (1999). 7. Becker (2000). 8. Guicking et al. (2001). 9. Brooke (1987). 10. Brooke (2004). 11. Hodum unpubl. data. 12. Hodum and Wainstein (2004). 13. Hodum et al. (2004). 14. Commission for Environmental Cooperation (2005)

Further web sources of information

Audubon WatchList

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), Esteban Frere (Wildlife Conservation Society), Ben Lascelles (BirdLife International)

Contributors Dusti Becker (Fundación Aves del Ecuador), D. Guicking, Peter Hodum (Oikonos), J. C. Torres-Mura

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Esteban Frere (Wildlife Conservation Society), Esteban Frere (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Puffinus creatopus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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