Family/Sub-family Hydrobatidae

Species name author (G. R. Gray, 1864)

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

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,000 - 90,000

unset

201,000 km²

No

Range & population Oceanodroma hornbyi has been observed in thousands in the eastern Pacific Ocean, along the coast of Peru and Chile². Data on overall numbers and trends are lacking, and the breeding grounds have never been found^1,2,3. At-sea distribution and observations of grounded birds indicate that it nests between 20° and 25°S in Chile and perhaps north into Peru¹. Birds may breed on offshore islands or mainland cliffs, but the coast of north Chile is distinctly bereft of islands and the cliffs are largely devoid of deep rocky crevices or soil in which petrels might burrow¹. It is most likely to nest in the Atacama Desert, and there are reports of mummified adults and fledglings found up to 50 km inland and 1,500 m above sea level⁴.

Ecology: It may breed on offshore islands or mainland cliffs, but is most likely to nest inland in the arid Atacama Desert.

Threats Until the breeding grounds are found, the extent to which it is threatened by mining-related activity will remain unknown¹.

Conservation measures underway None is known.

Conservation measures proposed Search for breeding colonies on offshore islands, coastal cliffs and the arid hinterland of the Antofagasta region in March-July, looking for burrows and signs of nesting, listening for night-time flight calls and following up reports of dead or grounded fledglings inland⁴.

References 1. Brooke (1999). 2. Carboneras (1992c). 3. Brooke (2000). 4. Tobias et al. (2006).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Oceanodroma hornbyi. 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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