Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This newly described storm-petrel appears to be one of the commonest seabirds within its small known range, and it may prove to be of Least Concern. However, until more is known of where it breeds, its likely population size and trends, and the likely severity of any threats, it has been classified as Data Deficient.
Population justification
Based on at-sea sightings, the species’s population has been estimated at around 3,000 individuals (Harrison et al. 2013), which roughly equates to 2,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The population trend of this recently-described species is as yet unknown.
Oceanites pincoyae is known only from the Puerto Montt and Chacao Channel area, Chile, and from two specimens taken inland at El Bolson, Argentina. More than 1,000 individuals were seen daily during an at-sea exploration of the Seno Reloncavi in February 2011, with the total population estimated at approximately 3,000 individuals (Harrison et al. 2013).
This species is only known from at-sea observations in the Seno Reloncavi and Puerto Montt area of Chile and two specimens collected (in 1972 and 1983) inland at El Bolson, Argentina (Harrison et al. 2013). It has been suggested that the species is resident in this area and has been postulated to breed either on islands or sea cliffs or possibly inland (Harrison et al. 2013). The species forages from the ocean surface or in flight and may make short dives of 1-3 seconds; it also moves across the ocean surface by means of 'mouse-runs', running with closed wings between foraging sites.
The Pincoya Storm-petrel may be at risk from the ingestion of granular polystyrene, present in the waters around its range due to the break-up of polystyrene flotation devices used in commercial aquaculture (Harrison et al. 2013). However, there is no indication of an impact from this pollution on the population of the species as yet. Small-scale shipping through the waters occupied by the species is frequent and there is a high likelihood of small oil spills; these may present an ongoing threat to the species (Harrison et al. 2013). However, no impacts or particular propensity of the species to be negatively impacted by oil pollution has yet been demonstrated.
Conservation and research actions underway
No targeted actions are known.
Conservation and research actions proposed
Search for the breeding grounds, using radio transmitters fitted to birds captured at sea followed by an extensive telemetry exercise to detect any movement to land (the species could be breeding on islands or high in the mountains), looking for burrows and signs of nesting, listening for night-time flight calls and following up reports of dead or grounded fledglings inland. Assess the likely impacts of potential threats in its range.
Wingspan 33cm, 24g. A typical small black-and-white storm-petrel with a prominent white upperwing bar, extensive white on the underwing, white lower belly and ventral area and white on the webs of the outer tail feathers. Similar species. Wilson's Storm-petrel O. oceanicus and Elliot's Storm-petrel O. gracilis both lack a strong white upperwing bar, are dark on the ventral area and have all-dark webs on their tail feathers. Voice. When scavenging, an incessant sparrow-like chatter.
Text account compilers
Fjagesund, T., Martin, R., Miller, E., Hermes, C., Moreno, R., Stuart, A., Symes, A., Taylor, J.
Contributors
Harrison, P., Bourne, W., Gaskin, C.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pincoya Storm-petrel Oceanites pincoyae. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pincoya-storm-petrel-oceanites-pincoyae on 21/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 21/12/2024.