Phoebastria albatrus
The Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) is a majestic and highly pelagic seabird of the North Pacific, easily identified by its impressive size and distinctive plumage. Adults typically measure 84-94 cm (33-37 in) in length with a formidable wingspan of 213-229 cm (84-90 in) and weigh between 4.3-8.5 kg (9.5-18.7 lb). Their plumage is predominantly white with a yellowish-buff wash on the head and nape, a unique feature among North Pacific albatrosses, complemented by dark primaries ...
This species is primarily pelagic, spending most of its life at sea over deep oceanic waters, often associating with continental shelves and slopes. It breeds exclusively on remote, volcanic oceanic islands.
Their diet primarily consists of squid, various fish species, and crustaceans, supplemented by offal scavenged from fishing boats.
Short-tailed Albatrosses are diurnal foragers, spending most of their time soaring over the open ocean in search of food. Their foraging strategies involve surface-seizing, shallow pursuit-diving, and scavenging behind fishing vessels, often resting on the water's surface between bouts. They are ...
The breeding range of the Short-tailed Albatross is highly restricted, almost entirely to Torishima Island, Japan, with smaller colonies established on the Senkaku Islands (Japan) and, more recently through translocation efforts, on Midway Atoll (USA). Post-breeding, they disperse widely across t...
Vulnerable
- The Short-tailed Albatross was once thought extinct in the mid-20th century due to relentless feather hunting, with only around 50 individuals surviving. - It is the largest of the three North Pacific albatross species, easily distinguishable from the Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses. - The ...