Behavior

Diurnal, forage during the day and return to the colony at night. Nest colonially. Primarily a bottom feeder.

Male advertisement display at the nest or nest site consists almost entirely of gargling. The display consists of a throwback of the head to the back with the bill open and an aark call is given. The tail is raised to varying degrees. Individual recognition between mated birds consist of gaping, head lowering, throat clicking and possible also allopreening.

Among predators, Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus), Snowy Sheathbills (Chionis albus), skuas (Catharacta sp.), giant petrels (Macronectes sp.), and Dolphin Gulls (Leucophaeus scoresbii) occasionally take eggs and chicks. Mammalian predators include the Puma (Puma concolor), the Red Fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus), the Gray Fox (Pseudalopex griseus), the Patagonian Ferret (Lyncodon patagonicus), the Geoffroy’s Cat (Felis geoffroyi), and the Hairy Armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus).