Stejneger’s Petrel (Pterodroma longirostris)

Identification & Behavior: ~26 cm (10.2 in). The Stejneger’s Petrel (Masafuera Petrel) has bluish-gray upperparts with a black “M” pattern on the back. The area around the base of the bill, face. and rest of the underparts are white. It has a dusky hood that contrasts with the color of the back. The underwing is also white narrowly fringed with black and a black diagonal stripe from the carpal area, which is often not well-defined. It is very similar to the Cook’s Petrel but is distinguished by having a dusky hood and broad gray semi-collar, which is absent in the Cook’s Petrel. Also,  the similar Juan Fernandez Petrel is much larger.

Status: The Stejneger’s Petrel is a rare non-breeding visitor in the winter months of May through October. Due to similarities, extreme caution needs to be used when identifying Pterodroma petrels. The Stejneger’s or Masafuera Petrel also occurs in Ch.

Name in Spanish: Petrel de Masafuera.

Sub-species: Stejneger’s Petrel (Pterodroma longirostris), (Stejneger) 1893.

Meaning of Name: Pterodroma: Gr pteron= wing and dromos= -racer, runner. longirostris: L. longi= long and rostris=bill.

See more of the Family Procellariidae