Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis)
Laysan Albatross

Laysan Albatross

Phoebastria immutabilis

The Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis, is a majestic seabird of the North Pacific, predominantly found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This species, named after one of its breeding colonies on Laysan Island, is the second-most common seabird in the Hawaiian archipelago. With a population estimated at 1.18 million birds, the Laysan albatross is a small member of its family, resembling a gull in its two-toned plumage with a dark gray mantle and wings contrasted by a white underside and head.

Identification Tips

Adult Laysan albatrosses average 81 cm in length with a wingspan of 195 to 203 cm. Males are larger than females, weighing between 2.4 to 4.1 kg, while females weigh between 1.9 to 3.6 kg. They exhibit blackish-gray upperwing, mantle, back, upper rump, and tail, with a white head, lower rump, and underparts. A distinctive black smudge encircles the eye, and the bill is pink with a dark tip. Juveniles can be recognized by their gray bill and dark upper rump. Unlike some species, the Laysan albatross does not have a breeding plumage.

Habitat

The Laysan albatross is an oceanic bird that nests on small islands and atolls, often in large colonies. It prefers sandy beaches and grassy areas for nesting.

Distribution

This albatross has a wide range across the North Pacific, with 99.7% of its breeding population residing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, especially on Midway and Laysan. Smaller populations are found on the Bonin Islands near Japan and on islands off Mexico, such as Guadalupe Island.

Behaviour

The Laysan albatross is typically silent but may occasionally emit "moo"-ing sounds, descending whinnies, or rattles. They are known for their lifelong pair bonds and cooperative chick-rearing. Wisdom, a female Laysan albatross, is the oldest known wild bird, estimated to be over 70 years old.

Song & Calls

While generally silent, the Laysan albatross can produce a variety of sounds, particularly during the breeding season.

Breeding

Laysan albatrosses are colonial nesters, with a protracted breeding cycle. They breed annually, though some may skip years. The breeding season in the Hawaiian Islands typically spans from November to July. Courtship involves elaborate dances with up to 25 ritualized movements. The single egg laid is buff-white, sometimes spotted, and incubation lasts about 65 days.

Similar Species

The Laysan albatross can be distinguished from the black-footed albatross by its two-toned plumage and from the rare short-tailed albatross by its all-dark back and smaller size.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists mainly of cephalopods, supplemented by fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.

Conservation status

The IUCN classifies the Laysan albatross as Near Threatened. While populations may be rebounding, they have not fully recovered from historical hunting and habitat threats. Conservation efforts are ongoing, particularly on Midway Atoll, where lead poisoning from old buildings has been a significant issue.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Laysan Albatrosses on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Albatrosses

A photo of a Amsterdam Albatross (Diomedea amsterdamensis)

Amsterdam Albatross

Diomedea amsterdamensis
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
Emcil24
A Friendly Place
I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so it’s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. It’s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. It’s like a real life Pokémon go.
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Safira V
Birding and wellbeing app
Birda is an excellent platform to share your love of Birding and is a great tool of encouragement for a Birding Beginner like me. Birda has a very kind and supportive community of Birding enthusiasts. For me BIRDA is not only a BIRDING but also a WELLBEING App.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.