Pincoya Storm Petrel
The Pincoyasturmschwalbe ( Oceanites pincoyae ) is a seabird of the family of petrels ( Hydrobatidae ). The species name refers to the Pincoya, a water spirit from the Chilote mythology. After Seamus Enright and Michael O'Keeffe published 2009 Photos of unidentified petrels from the waters of Chiloé Archipelago in the year, these birds have been explored in more detail in 2011 and 2013, described as a new species scientifically.
Features
The Pincoyasturmschwalbe reaches a length of about 16 cm and a weight of 22-30 g It is a small Sturmschwalbenart with long legs, square tail and a white horseshoe drawing on the upper tail-coverts, which for the species of the genus is typical Oceanites. About both wing surfaces runs a characteristic, strong, white ribbon. The head and bottom are predominantly black brown. The fresh plumage shows a silvery gray blurring in good light. The white upper tail-coverts form a distinctive horseshoe and contrast sharply with the black and brown rump and tail. The outermost pair of tail feathers has a white base along two-thirds of its length. The upper wings are dark brown, except the lighter large and middle coverts and the inner large -coverts, which are highlighted by clear white seams and the other upper wings both in flight and at rest contrast sharply. In fresh plumage this wing surfaces are most striking. The outer webs of the great coverts have thin white hems. The innermost secondaries and the longest shield springs have thinner white hems. The lower wings are dark, except for a contrasting white band along the major arm and hand covers. The latter have a brownish Subterminalfleck at the outermost feathers.
Vocalizations
Groups in search of food give an incessant, loud, sparrow -like chatter of itself.
Dissemination
Deposits were discovered in the Seno de Reloncavi ( Reloncavi Sound ) in Puerto Montt and in the region of the Chacao channel near the island of Chiloé in south-central Chile.
Habitat
The Pincoyasturmschwalbe is evidently in the protected inner waters in the Chilean fjord system most frequently, where the water depth reaches 100 to 200 m. From the deep-sea zone no records are known to date. Accumulations of many specimens in foraging were observed in both quiet and in rough seas.
Food behavior
The ecology and behavior in foraging are unique among the terns in the southern hemisphere. This includes the so-called "mouse -run", in which the wings are folded and the legs are half submerged and repeatedly diving under the surface in search of food. Foot splashing is common to the sometimes followed by a dipping, to collect food under the water surface. Sometimes the birds dive under the water in which they use their feet as a drive. The search for food is done individually or in pairs. On good feeding grounds but are observed to several hundred.
Reproductive behavior
About the reproductive behavior is not known. Based on the Mauser data is assumed that the breeding season begins in early October with the arrival of the birds in the colonies. Oviposition starts probably in mid-November and the young are fledged between the middle and end of February. Probably one egg is laid.
Status
The Pincoyasturmschwalbe is currently not included in the IUCN Red List. The stock is estimated to be about 3000 copies. The Seno de Reloncavi and Chiloe Lake are protected inner waters. Progressive human activities in nearby Puerto Montt could indicate an increased risk of shipping accidents and pollution of water. Other threats could come from the commercial salmon and mussel farms, and of which detach from the use of buoys made of polystyrene tiny particles which are then swallowed by the terns. The discovery of Nistgründe would be an important step for an adequate protection of this kind