Phoebastria irrorata
The Waved Albatross (*Phoebastria irrorata*) is a majestic seabird, measuring 80-99 cm in length with an impressive wingspan of 200-240 cm and weighing 3.4-4.6 kg. Its most distinctive features include a large, yellowish-white head and neck, contrasting with a chocolate-brown back and wings finely barred with wavy patterns, giving it its common name. The prominent pale blue bill, tipped with vibrant pink or yellow-orange, is a unique field mark, easily differentiating it from other albatrosse...
This pelagic species spends the vast majority of its life soaring over the open ocean, primarily foraging in the productive waters of the Humboldt Current. For breeding, it exclusively utilizes the bare, rocky volcanic islands of the Galápagos Archipelago and a single mainland Ecuadorian island, ...
Their diet primarily consists of squid, fish, and crustaceans, often scavenged from the ocean's surface or taken from fishing vessel discards. They are also known to make shallow dives to pursue prey.
Waved Albatrosses are diurnal at sea but often feed nocturnally, spending their lives primarily on the wing, only returning to land for their lengthy breeding cycle. Foraging strategies include surface seizing and shallow dives to scavenge squid, fish, and crustaceans, frequently associating with...
The Waved Albatross has a highly restricted breeding range, with the vast majority of the global population nesting almost exclusively on Española Island in the Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador. A small, secondary colony has also been established on Isla de la Plata, off the coast of mainland Ecuad...
Endangered
- The Waved Albatross is the only albatross species found exclusively in tropical waters. - Its intricate courtship dance, involving elaborate head movements and bill-clapping, can last for over 20 minutes. - Nearly the entire world population breeds on Española Island in the Galápagos. - Waved A...