Juan Fernández Petrel (Pterodroma externa)

Identification & Behavior: ~43 cm (17 in). The Juan Fernandez Petrel has bluish-gray upperparts with a blackish “M” pattern on the back. The face, throat, and rest of the underparts are white. It has a black hood that contrasts with the bluish-gray back. The tail is blackish and often shows a white band on the rump. The underwing is also white narrowly fringed with black and reduced diagonal stripe, which is often not well-defined. It is very similar to the Masatierra Petrel but is distinguished by having a black hood, a blackish tail, and a larger size.

Status: The Juan Fernandez Petrel is a rare non-breeding visitor in the winter months. Due to similarities, extreme caution needs to be used when identifying Pterodroma petrels. The Juan Fernandez Petrel also occurs in Ch.

Name in Spanish: Petrel de Juan Fernández.

Sub-species: Juan Fernández Petrel (Pterodroma externa), (Salvin), 1875.

Meaning of Name: Pterodroma: Gr pteron= wing and dromos= -racer, runner. externa: L. externus, exter= that is outside, external.

See more of the Family Procellariidae