Phoebetria palpebrata
The Light-mantled Albatross, *Phoebetria palpebrata*, is a striking and elegant pelagic seabird of the Southern Ocean, renowned for its graceful flight and distinct appearance. Measuring 79-89 cm (31-35 in) in length with an impressive wingspan of 180-220 cm (71-87 in) and weighing 2.5-3.7 kg (5.5-8.2 lb), this albatross sports a sooty-brown body that contrasts sharply with its diagnostic pale grey mantle, back, and nape, giving it its common name. Key identification features include a promin...
This albatross is a truly pelagic species, spending most of its life at sea over the cold, productive waters of the Southern Ocean, only coming ashore to breed on remote subantarctic islands, typically on vegetated cliffs and steep slopes.
Their diet consists primarily of cephalopods (squid), crustaceans (especially krill), and small fish, supplemented by carrion and fishery offal. They forage by surface-seizing and shallow-diving.
Light-mantled Albatrosses are primarily diurnal foragers at sea, though they may also feed nocturnally near breeding colonies or during periods of prey availability. Their foraging strategy involves surface-seizing and shallow plunge-diving, often associating with ice edges, upwellings, and occas...
The Light-mantled Albatross has a circumpolar distribution across the Southern Ocean, primarily ranging between 30°S and 70°S latitude, with some individuals occasionally venturing further north. Its breeding grounds are restricted to remote subantarctic islands, including South Georgia, Kerguele...
Near Threatened
- The Light-mantled Albatross is the only albatross species with a distinctly wedge-shaped tail, making it unique among its family. - Known for its exceptionally graceful and acrobatic flight, it can glide effortlessly for hours on the strongest winds of the Southern Ocean. - They are sometimes r...