Markham's Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates markhami
VulnerableAves · Procellariiformes · Hydrobatidae
About
Markham's storm petrel is a seabird native to the Pacific Ocean around Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. The species is named after British explorer Albert Hastings Markham, who collected the specimen on which the scientific description was based. It is a large and slender storm petrel, with a wingspan between 49 and 54 cm. Its plumage is black to sooty brown with a grayish bar that runs diagonally across the upper side of the wings. A member of the family Hydrobatidae, the northern storm petrels, the species is similar to the black storm petrel, from which it can be hard to distinguish.
Fun Fact
A survey published in 2007 found that during austral autumn, the non-breeding season, the largest concentration of birds is just off the cost of Peru between Guayaquil and Lima.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Found in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, as reported in a 2019 study.
Diet
Diet of Markham's storm petrel consists of fish, cephalopods such as octopuses, and crustaceans; about ten percent of stomach contents is traceable to scavenging.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Degradation
- Overexploitation
- Invasive Species
- Climate Change