[order] PROCELLARIIFORMES | [family] Diomedeidae | [latin] Thalassarche melanophris | [authority] Temminck, 1828 | [UK] Black-browed Albatross | [FR] Albatros a sourcils noirs | [DE] Schwarzbrauen-Albatros | [ES] Albatros Ojeroso | [NL] Wenkbrauwalbatros
| Genus |
Species |
subspecies |
Region |
Range |
| Thalassarche |
melanophris |
|
SO |
widespread |
Genus
Albatrosses are the ‘largest’ birds in terms of wingspan. Royal Abatrosses, for instance, may reach a wing span of almost 3.5m, which make them look like feathered sail plaines. They are also the largest members of the tubenose family. Only the smallest albatross species are equalled in size by the Giant Petrels (Macronectes). Albatrosses occur in all oceans, except the northern part of the Atlantic. In ancient times they were also present in that part of the world, but nowadays only an occasional straggler find its way to the North Atlantic. Most of the 24 species are Southern Hemisphere breeders, only three actually breed north of the Equator in the Pacific Ocean.
Albatross taxonomy is subject of discussion for a long time, and has been at times rather chaotic. Based on external characters: plumage patterns, tail shapes, bill structure (size, organization of the plates and coloration) albatrosses were, until recently, divided in 13-14 species in four ‘natural groups’: the Great Albatrosses, the Mollymawks, the North Pacific Albatrosses, grouped in the genus Diomedea and the Sooty Albatrosses Phoebastria. More recently DNA-analyses supports the division in four distinct groups but the were elevated to a generic status and has led to a splitting into 24 species: Great Albatrosses Diomedea (7 species), the Northern (Pacific) Albatrosses Phoebastria (4 species), the southern Mollymawks Thalassarche (11 species) and the Sooty Albatrosses Phoebetria (2 species). Recently this taxonomy is challenged by who proposed to lump some of the ‘species’ again based on their molecular analysis. Since then the discussion flared up and has not ended yet. Some list six species of Great Albatrosses, including two subspecies of Antipodian Albatross.
The Black-browed Albatross has a characteristic black brow over each eye. Individuals are predominantly white with dark grey wings and back. The underwing is white with wide black edges (thickest on the leading edge) and tip. The bill is bright yellow-orange with a pink
tip. The feet, toes and web are blue-grey. Juveniles are similar to adults, but with a paler brow and a pale grey hindneck, often extending to sides of neck. The bill in juveniles is dark brown with a black tip and the legs and feet are also darker than the
adult.
Listen to the sound of Black-browed Albatross
[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PROCELLARIIFORMES/Diomedeidae/sounds/Black-browed Albatross.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
recorded by Sofia Wasylyk
| wingspan min.: |
210 |
cm |
wingspan max.: |
250 |
cm |
| size min.: |
80 |
cm |
size max.: |
95 |
cm |
| incubation min.: |
65 |
days |
incubation max.: |
72 |
days |
| fledging min.: |
120 |
days |
fledging max.: |
72 |
days |
| broods: |
1 |
|
eggs min.: |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
eggs max.: |
1 |
|
Southern Ocean : widespread. Thalassarche melanophrys has a circumpolar distribution ranging from subtropical to polar waters, breeding in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Islas Diego Ramirez, Ildefonso, Diego de Almagro and Isla Evangelistas (Chile), South Georgia (Georgias del Sur), Crozet and Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), Heard and McDonald Islands and Macquarie Island (Australia), and Campbell and Antipodes Islands, New Zealand.
The Black-browed Albatross inhabits antarctic, subantarctic and subtropical marine waters and can tolerate water temperatures of between 0 degrees C and 24 degrees C. Although generally pelagic or ocean-going, the species also occurs in continental shelf waters and is often seen from the land.
The Black-browed Albatross nests on vegetated sub-antarctic and antarctic islands. Known breeding locations include Macquarie, Heard and Antipodes Islands. Nests are located on cliffs or steep slopes. Nests consist of a mound of soil and vegetation and are used annually. This species forms colonies with as many as 100,000 nests. Breeding colonies
occasionally contain other species such as the Grey-headed Albatross. Birds are
territorial while nesting and will aggressively peck other birds if they come too close.
Breeding occurs between September and December. A single egg is laid and incubated for 65-72 days by both parents. Both parents guard and feed their young for 4-5 months when the young fledges and becomes independent. After breeding, the fledgling and adults leave
breeding colonies. Young reach breeding age at approximately 11 years,
This species feeds on fish, crustaceans, offal and cephalopods (squid) and often forages in flocks with other seabirds. Individuals seize prey from the surface while swimming or landing, occasionally submerging their head and body to capture the prey underwater. This
species scavenges in large flocks behind fishing vessels.
Video Black-browed Albatross
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5BuoqfKBKo
copyright: Laurent Demongin
This species is listed as Endangered because it is estimated to be declining at a very rapid rate over three generations (65 years) on the basis of current rates of decline at the large breeding colonies in the south-west Atlantic. These declines have been attributed to the impact of incidental mortality in longline and trawl fisheries.
The Black-browed Albatross is circumpolar in distribution, occurring widely in the southern oceans, including around South America, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Antarctica.
The total breeding population was estimated at c.680,000 pairs in 1998, 80% at the Falkland Islands, 10% at South Georgia and 3% in Chile1. More recently data revised this to c.600,853 pairs, 67% in the Falkland Islands, 12% at South Georgia and 20% in Chile.
Despite extensive ringing, movements not very well understood. Strong migratory movement N, with young of different populations showing distinct target areas; perhaps also adults. Most common straggler of all S albatrosses into N Atlantic, with 41 records for Britain alone up to 1985 (see page 206); also recorded off Norway, Faeroe Is, Spitsbergen and Iceland; less common in NW Atlantic, where D. chlororhynchos more regularly recorded. Tradition of its capture as mascot for fishing vessels may have produced some of N Hemisphere records in past.
Literature
Title A BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS THALASSARCHE MELANOPHRIS
CONSUMES A TERN STERNA SP.
Author(s): FERNANDA I. COLABUONO, CARMEM E. FEDRIZZI and CAIO J. CARLOS
Abstract: Albatrosses (Diomedeidae) feed mostly on cephalopo..[more]..
Source: Marine Ornithology 34: 167-168 (2006)
download full text (pdf)
Title BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS THALASSARCHE melanophrys FEEDING
ON A WILSON?S STORM-PETREL OCEANITES OCEANICUS
Author(s): JUAN P. SECO PON and PATRICIA A. GANDINI
Abstract: The diet of Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche me..[more]..
Source: Marine Ornithology 36: 77-78 (2008)
download full text (pdf)
Title Magnetic cues: are they important in Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris orientation?
Author(s): FRANCESCO BONADONNA et al
Abstract: Procellariiformes are well known for their excelle..[more]..
Source: Ibis, 145, 152-155
download full text (pdf)
Title COLOUR MARKING OF FLEDGLING BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS ON STEEPLE JASON ISLAND
Author(s): Ben Sullivan and Tim Reid
Abstract: To collect at-sea sightings of colour marked fledg..[more]..
Source: Seabirds at Sea Team Report 2003
download full text (pdf)
Title BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSSES FORAGING ON ANTARCTIC KRILL: DENSITY-DEPENDENCE THROUGH LOCAL ENHANCEMENT?
Author(s): DANIEL GRUNBAUM, AND RICHARD R. VEIT
Abstract: Many Antarctic seabirds depend on prey that are pa..[more]..
Source: Ecology, 84(12), 2003, pp. 3265-3275
download full text (pdf)
Title Field metabolic rates of black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophrys during the incubation stage
Author(s): Scott A. Shaffer et al
Abstract: Field metabolic rates (FMR) and activity patterns ..[more]..
Source: JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY 35: 551-558, 2004
download full text (pdf)
Title Global relationships amongst black-browed and
grey-headed albatrosses: analysis of population structure
using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites
Author(s): T. M. BURG
Abstract: The population structure of black-browed (
Thalas..[more]..
Source: Molecular Ecology (2001) 10 , 26472660
download full text (pdf)
Title SUMMER DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION OF NONBREEDING
ALBATROSSES: INDIVIDUAL CONSISTENCIES AND IMPLICATIONS
FOR CONSERVATION
Author(s): RICHARD A. PHILLIPS et al
Abstract: Many birds show a surprising degree of intraspecif..[more]..
Source: Ecology, 86(9), 2005, pp. 2386-2396
download full text (pdf)
Title The influence of parental relatedness on reproductive success
Author(s): W. Amos et al
Abstract: The relationship between tness and parental simil..[more]..
Source: Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B (2001) 268, 2021^2027
download full text (pdf)
