Pincoya Storm Petrel
Oceanites pincoyae
The Pincoya Storm Petrel (Oceanites pincoyae) is a legendary southern storm petrel found only in Chile, weighing about 26 g. The Pincoya storm petrel is a sea bird of the storm petrel family.
About the Pincoya Storm Petrel
The Pincoya storm petrel is a sea bird of the storm petrel family. The specific name commemorates the Pincoya, a female water spirit of the Chilote mythology. After being first brought to the attention of the world from photographs taken by Seamus Enright and Michael O'Keeffe in 2009 this species was finally formally discovered and examined in 2011 and scientifically described in 2013. It was originally only known from waters near Chiloé Island, Chile, specifically Reloncavi Sound and the Chacao Channel, but in 2021, one was photographed in the Benguela Current off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The holotype, a female, which was captured, examined, and released afterwards on 19 February 2011 has the following measurements: head and bill length 32.9 mm, exposed culmen length 11.5 mm, bill length from gape 12 mm, flattened wing length from chord 134 mm, tarsus length 31 mm, mid-toe length (with claws) 26.5 mm, tail length 57 mm, wing span 330 mm and a mass of 24 g.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, August, October, November, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Pincoya Storm Petrel?
- The holotype, a female, which was captured, examined, and released afterwards on 19 February 2011 has the following measurements: head and bill length 32.9 mm, exposed culmen length 11.5 mm, bill length from gape 12 mm, flattened wing length from chord 134 mm, tarsus length 31 mm, mid-toe length (with claws) 26.5 mm, tail length 57 mm, wing span 330 mm and a mass of 24 g.
- How big is a Pincoya Storm Petrel?
- The Pincoya Storm Petrel is a small sized bird weighing about 26 g.
- Where can you see a Pincoya Storm Petrel?
- The Pincoya Storm Petrel is endemic to Chile, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Pincoya Storm Petrel?
- The Pincoya Storm Petrel is most easily confused with the Elliot's Storm Petrel and the Wilson's Storm Petrel.
Learn the Pincoya Storm Petrel for real
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