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

Waved Albatross

Phoebastria irrorata

The Waved Albatross, known also as the Galapagos Albatross, is a medium-sized member of the Diomedeidae family, with a length of 80 to 90 cm and a wingspan stretching between 220 and 250 cm. These birds are notable for their yellowish-cream neck and head, contrasting with their predominantly brownish bodies. Their most striking feature is the long, bright yellow bill, which appears rather large against their small head and slender neck. The upper parts and underparts are chestnut brown with fine barring, while the breast is whitish and the underwings are lighter. Their feet are a subtle blue hue.

Identification Tips

Adult Waved Albatrosses can be identified by their yellowish-cream head and neck, large yellow bill, and brown body with fine barring. The juveniles resemble adults but have more white on their heads, while chicks are covered in brown fluffy feathers. Observers should note the species' distinctive flight pattern and landing difficulties due to their high stalling speed.

Habitat

These albatrosses breed on the rocky terrain of Española Island, amidst boulders and sparse vegetation or dense brush. Outside the breeding season, they can be found along the coasts of Ecuador and Peru.

Distribution

The Waved Albatross is primarily found on Española Island in the Galápagos, with occasional sightings and potential small breeding populations on Genovesa Island and Isla de la Plata. During the non-breeding season, they reside along the Ecuadorian and Peruvian coasts and are sometimes seen in Colombia.

Behaviour

Waved Albatrosses are known for their impressive flying abilities, utilizing dynamic soaring to glide for hours. They can travel 10 to 100 km from their nesting sites to forage for food. Landing and taking off can be challenging due to their size and wing span, often requiring takeoff from cliffs.

Song & Calls

The courtship ritual of the Waved Albatross includes a series of sounds and movements, such as bill circling, bowing, beak clacking, and a distinctive "whoo hoo" sound produced with an upraised bill.

Breeding

Nesting occurs on Española Island, where the albatrosses engage in elaborate courtship displays. Eggs are laid between April and June and incubated for around two months. Chicks are reared in nurseries and fed up to 2 kg of oil by their parents. They reach adult size by December and depart the colony by January. Mating pairs remain together for life unless one partner perishes.

Similar Species

There are no similar species within the range of the Waved Albatross, making it unlikely to be confused with other birds.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Waved Albatross consists mainly of fish, squid, crustaceans, and occasionally smaller birds. They are also known to scavenge, including feeding on regurgitated food from other birds.

Conservation status

The Waved Albatross is currently classified as Critically Endangered. The population is estimated at around 34,700 adult birds, with a decline observed over recent years. Threats include bycatch from longline fishing, tourism disturbance, disease, and illegal fishing. Conservation efforts are in place, as the Galápagos is a protected national park and a World Heritage Site. However, the species' limited range and other pressures make it highly vulnerable to extinction.

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

Waved 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
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
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.
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
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.
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.