The Magellanic diving-petrel (Pelecanoides magellani) is a species of diving petrel, one of five very similar, small, auk-like petrels found exclusively in the southern oceans. It is one of the smaller species of diving-petrels, though size differences are seemingly indistinguishable between species unless seen up close. It is probably the least known of all five species. Taxonomy The Magellanic diving-petrel was formally described in 1912 by the Australian born ornithologist Gregory Mathews as a subspecies of the Peruvian diving-petrel with the trinomial name Pelecanoides garnotii magellani. It is now considered as a separate species with the binomial name Pelecanoides magellani. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek pelekan meaning "pelican" and "-oidēs" meaning "resembling". The specific epithet magellani refers to the Straits of Magellan. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. According to HBW, this species is more closely related to the South Georgian and Peruvian diving-petrels. The diving-petrels bear strong resemblances to the smaller auk species (i.e. the Dovekie or Little Auk), though they are not closely related. This likeness is a prime example of convergent evolution, since the two have similar niches in their ecosystem, therefore they have evolved similar traits. Description This short, compact petrel ranges from 19-22 cm (7.4-8.7 in) in length, and weighs anywhere between 5-6 oz (males are typically heavier than females). The head of P. magellani is black, bordered by a contrasting white that leads into a distinctive white crescent extending up towards the back of the neck . The rest of the body follows a strong penguin-like black above, white below scheme, with some white streaks around the sides of the nape and on the scapulars. They also have some blackish-grey mottling on the flank region and sometimes on the sides of the breast. The upperwing is mostly black, with white edges on the secondaries; the underwing coverts are white (with some fragments of black on the "arm"), while the underside of the flight feathers are light grey. The tail feathers (rectrices) are mostly black above (but may appear brown in some lighting) with nearly invisible white tips, and mainly white to a very light grey below. The bill is mostly black, as well as the upward-facing nostrils (which are unique only to the diving-petrels), the legs and feet are a light slate-blue to light blue with black-brownish webs, and black claws, and the eyes are a very dark brown color.