This small seabird was described from the Puerto Montt area of southern Chile. During a 2011 study, birds were observed in sheltered bay waters forming groups, running over the surface with their wings tucked, and diving for food.
The paper says the sexes have similar plumage; its adult holotype is female. The small bird has short rounded wings, a white rump and lower belly, bold white wing bars, and bright yellow webs on its feet.
At sea in Seno Reloncavi, the birds sometimes gathered at feeding areas, tucked their wings, ran across the water on their feet, and dived to take food. These behaviors were recorded during a study in southern Chile; breeding sites were not known in the paper.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.