Markham's Storm-Petrel Hydrobates markhami Scientific name definitions

The Markham's Storm-Petrel is a large, all-dark storm-petreI that is endemic to the Humboldt Current off South America. It is similar in appearance to the migratory Black Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates melania) of the northern hemisphere, and the two species occur together at times; however, Markham's Storm-Petrel prefers cooler water and can be distinguished by its shallower wingbeat and notably shorter tarsi.

Although a relatively common bird, its secretive habits and the relative difficulty of its observation have long obscured even its most basic biology. For many years, its breeding grounds were a mystery, and it was only through recent (2013-2023) investigations led by the Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC) and the Servicio Agricola y Ganadero of Chile that several colonies were finally discovered in the middle of the Atacama Desert. These findings were fundamental to a better understanding of the species' natural history, and provided the key to unlock crucial population size estimates.

From those discoveries, it is now known that Markham's Storm-Petrel breeds in colonies that are situated within natural cavities formed beneath saltpeter deposits in the Atacama and Sechura deserts of Chile and Peru. Colonies are located between 200 to 1100 meters above sea level, with some as far as 25 km inland.

The saltpeter deposits that are crucial to the species' nesting are subject to a litany of threats, including salt-mining operations, energy projects (solar and wind farms), and military activities, which may disrupt or destroy crucial breeding habitat. In addition, several thousand fledglings are grounded each year due to light pollution in the Atacama Desert. Presently, Markham's Storm-Petrel holds a status of Near Threatened according to the IUCN, and urgent conservation efforts and further research are imperative to safeguard its breeding habitat and ensure its continued survival.