Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus

The Pink-footed Shearwater’s life history is tied to the Humboldt and California upwelling currents in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. It is larger than other shearwaters in its range, other than Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes. It is also distinct in appearance with pinkish bill and feet, pale underparts, and brown to grayish upperparts. It is known to breed on the Juan Fernández Islands and Isla Mocha, off central Chile. Birds spend the non-breeding period in waters off Peru and northward to waters off the west coast of North America. Breeding occurs in colonies, where pairs nest in burrows and the female lays a single egg. Breeding colonies generally are located on steep slopes in both open and forested habitats. During the breeding period, the species forages mainly in waters over the relatively narrow continental shelf as well as over deep offshore waters, depending on breeding colony. During the non-breeding period, individuals concentrate near the continental shelf-break and slope, and in more pelagic waters while making migratory movements. The Pink-footed Shearwater preys on fish and squid by seizing them at the surface or by making shallow dives. Foraging is often in association with albacore, dolphins, other seabirds, and fishing vessels. Pink-footed Shearwater is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and Endangered by Chile and Canada. Principal conservation threats are mortality from fisheries bycatch (especially in South American fisheries), and predation and habitat degradation from introduced mammals on breeding islands.