Sooty Albatross

The sooty albatross, Phoebetria fusca, is a medium-sized member of the albatross family, Diomedeidae. It is characterized by its sooty-brown to sooty-black plumage, with a wingspan stretching an impressive 2 meters. The bird's head and sometimes tail are typically darker than the rest of the body, and it possesses a distinctive white ring around almost the entire eye, save for the inner corner. A striking yellow to orange line adorns the lower jaw of its otherwise glossy black beak.

Identification Tips

Adult sooty albatrosses measure approximately 85 cm from head to tail and weigh around 2.5 kg, with males being slightly heavier than females. Juveniles resemble adults after they shed their down feathers, making them nearly identical in appearance.

Habitat

These birds are pelagic, spending much of their life soaring over the deep ocean. They nest on remote southern Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands, favoring cliffs or steep slopes for their nesting sites.

Distribution

Sooty albatrosses inhabit the southern Atlantic Ocean, the southern Indian Ocean, and the Southern Ocean. Their range extends from approximately 20°S to 65°S latitude, and from 160°E to 75°W longitude.

Behaviour

Sooty albatrosses are known for their lifelong breeding partnerships and fidelity to their nesting sites. They are biennial breeders, returning to the same spot every other year to raise their young. Non-breeding adults have a broader foraging range, while juveniles tend to stay in subtropical waters.

Breeding

These albatrosses breed every other year, with a season that spans from June to May. They build nests using local materials like grass, mud, and moss, and lay their eggs between mid-September and the end of October. Incubation takes around 70 days, followed by a brooding period of about three months.

Diet and Feeding

Sooty albatrosses feed primarily on cephalopods, fish, crustaceans, and carrion, using a surface-seizing method. They scavenge at the ocean's surface, particularly favoring squid.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the sooty albatross as an endangered species, with a declining population due to threats such as predation, disease, habitat disturbance, pollution, and long-line fisheries. Conservation efforts include the implementation of seabird-friendly fishing practices and the protection of breeding grounds.