Black-footed Albatross

Black-footed Albatross
Adult swimming.
Class	Aves
Order	Procellariiformes
Family	Diomedeidae
Genus	Phoebastria
Species	P. nigripes
Similar Species	Laysan Albatross, Short-tailed Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Northern Fulmar

The Black-footed Albatross is the only dark albatross of the northern Pacific Ocean. It wanders widely across the northern Pacific for most of the year, and is regularly seen off the west coast of North America.

Appearance

Black-footed Albatrosses are large for a seabird but small for an albatross. They have very long, narrow wings and are mostly dusky brown. There is white at base of their large bills and under their dark eyes.

Occurrence

Range map

They nest in sandy areas on islands. This albatross spends their nonbreeding season on open ocean.

Life History

Diet

They prey on mostly flying fish eggs; also squid, adult flying fish, and crustaceans, as well as scraps thrown from ships.

Nesting

Adult feeding chick.

A Black-footed Albatross nest is a scrape in the sand. They lay one egg per clutch. The eggs are white, with brown speckling at the larger end. Newly hatched albatrosses are downy and helpless with their eyes open.

Behavior

Pair bond is formed and maintained through various displays, including bill-touching and head-shaking. They feed while swimming on the surface.

Conservation

The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan estimates a population of 148,000 breeding Black-footed Albatross in North America, rates the species a 16 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, and lists it as a Species of Highest Concern. Though populations appear stable, these birds are at risk due to fishing practices, sea-level rise, storm surges, and oil pollution of marine waters. Drift nets kill large numbers of Black-footed Albatrosses (4,426 deaths documented in 1990). Black-footed Albatross is on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List, which lists bird species that are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered without conservation action.

Gallery

Images

Adult in flight.

Adult in flight.

Adult and a juvenile.

Videos

Black-footed albatross feeding chick

Black Footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) practice courtship rituals, mating dance (USFWS)

Trivia

• The Black-footed Albatross has a keen sense of smell, which it uses to locate food across vast expanses of ocean.
• The Black-footed Albatross drinks seawater and excretes excess salt through glands above the eyes.
• The oldest recorded Black-footed Albatross was a male, and at least 42 years, 1 month old, when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations.
• Other names for this albatross is Albatros Patinegro (in Spanish) and Albatros à pieds noirs (in French).