Seabirds, especially pelagic species, are more threatened than most other bird groups with similar numbers of species. Among them,Storm-petrels (family Hydrobatidae) are diverse and widespread in the Pacific Ocean.Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma markhami) is common in the Humboldt Current, including pelagic and coastal waters of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile between 18°N and 30°S.
Only a couple of nesting sites in Perú and now one in Chile have been documented, and therefore this species is considered endemic to the Chile-Perú Pacific Slope. It is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN because data on overall numbers, trends, and threats are not known.
The first record of reproduction of Markham’s Storm-Petrel in Chile, where it is categorized as endangered, was recently described at a Chilean journal called Revista Chilena de Historia Natural (Chilean Journal of Natural History).
J.C. Torres-Mura & M. Lemus. 2013. Breeding of Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma markhami, Aves: Hydrobatidae) in the desert of northern Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 86: 497-499.
Juan C. Torres-Mura
J.C. Torres-Mura is a Chilean biologist (zoologist) and photographer with a lot of experience in research and dissemination of knowledge on biodiversity. Is the author of several papers and articles on the fauna and the ecosystems they inhabit.
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