Black-footed Albatross

The Black-footed Albatross, Phoebastria nigripes, is a majestic seabird from the North Pacific, predominantly found among the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This species is characterized by its predominantly dark plumage, with adults displaying white markings around the base of the beak and below the eye. As they mature, they may develop more white at the base of their beak. Their beak and feet are dark, matching the somber tones of their feathers. They are a smaller member of the albatross family but still command attention with their impressive wingspan and stature.

Identification Tips

When observing the Black-footed Albatross, look for a bird with a wingspan ranging from 190 to 220 cm and a body length of 68 to 74 cm. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males averaging 3.4 kg and females slightly lighter at around 3 kg. The dark plumage is almost uniform, and the bird maintains a single plumage throughout its life.

Habitat

This albatross prefers the open ocean, only coming ashore to breed. It is a pelagic bird, spending much of its life soaring over the vast expanses of the North Pacific Ocean.

Distribution

The Black-footed Albatross is a bird of the northern hemisphere, with 97.5% of its population breeding in the isolated Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Small populations are also found on Japanese islands and off the Mexican coast. Their range at sea is extensive, from Alaska to California and across to Japan, with a preference for the northeastern Pacific.

Behaviour

The Black-footed Albatross is known for its elaborate courtship displays, including dances and a variety of vocalizations such as shrieks, squeals, bill-clapping, whistles, groans, and quacks. They are highly social during breeding and exhibit fidelity to their mates and nesting sites.

Song & Calls

Their vocal repertoire is diverse, with sounds ranging from aggressive shrieks during food disputes to more nuanced whistles and groans during courtship rituals.

Breeding

These birds are monogamous and form lifelong pair bonds. They begin breeding around seven years of age, with a biennial mating cycle. Their nests are simple scrapes in the sand, where they lay a single egg, which is then incubated for just over two months. Both parents share in the incubation and feeding of the chick, which fledges after approximately 140 days.

Diet and Feeding

The Black-footed Albatross feeds on a variety of marine life, including flying fish eggs, live fish, squid, and occasionally crustaceans. They are also known to ingest floating debris, which can be detrimental to their health.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the Black-footed Albatross as Near Threatened. The species faces threats from longline fishing bycatch, ingestion of plastics, oil pollution, and habitat disturbances from volcanic activity. Conservation efforts include protected nesting sites and bycatch prevention measures in fisheries. The global population is estimated at 129,000 adult birds, with significant breeding populations on Midway Atoll and Laysan Island.