Southern Royal Albatross

Diomedea epomophora

Vulnerable
With a wingspan reaching up to 11.5 feet, this ocean giant glides effortlessly across the southern seas, covering vast distances on its long-haul flights.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Southern Royal Albatross is a majestic seabird with predominantly white plumage and black upper wings. Its massive wingspan, reaching up to 3.5 meters, makes it one of the largest flying birds in the world. The bird's head often shows a golden-yellow wash.

Juveniles have more extensive black on their wings and back, gradually becoming whiter with age. Adults have a large pink bill with a yellowish tip, while their feet are pale pink. There is little difference between male and female plumage.

Size

Length

115cm to 123cm

Wingspan

290cm to 350cm

Weight

6.5kg to 10.5kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White Black

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Pink Yellow

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Southern Royal Albatross can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Southern Royal Albatross is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Southern Royal Albatrosses breed almost exclusively on subantarctic islands south of New Zealand, with over 99% of the population nesting on Campbell Island. During the non-breeding season, they range widely across the Southern Ocean, from Chile to Australia.

These birds are pelagic, spending most of their lives at sea. They prefer cold, open waters of the Southern Ocean but can occasionally be seen off the coasts of New Zealand and southern South America during their foraging trips.

Elevation Range

Sea level

Climate zones

Subantarctic, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Southern Royal Albatross. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident
Non-breeding
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Argentina Australia Brazil Chile Falkland Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands New Zealand South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season
Bouvet Island Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Uruguay
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
New Caledonia

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 95

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Southern Royal Albatross displays exceptional agility in flight, masterfully using dynamic soaring to cover vast distances with minimal energy expenditure. Their ability to glide effortlessly for long periods and navigate complex wind currents demonstrates remarkable aerial prowess.

Strength 80

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

With a massive wingspan of up to 3.5 metres and weighing up to 10.5 kg, these birds possess considerable strength. Their ability to dive up to 5 metres below the surface to catch prey and carry out long-distance flights indicates robust muscular capacity.

Adaptability 85

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Southern Royal Albatrosses show high adaptability, thriving in the harsh conditions of the Southern Ocean. Their specialised salt glands for excreting excess salt and ability to forage over enormous areas demonstrate significant adaptive traits. However, their restricted breeding range slightly limits this score.

Aggressiveness 60

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While not typically aggressive, Southern Royal Albatrosses display assertive behaviour during breeding season, particularly in courtship and nest defence. Their willingness to follow ships for food also suggests a degree of boldness, though they are not known for overt aggression.

Endurance 100

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The endurance of Southern Royal Albatrosses is truly remarkable. They can fly over 190,000 km (around 118,000 miles) in a single year, circumnavigating the Southern Ocean multiple times. Their ability to stay aloft for extended periods and their longevity (living up to 50 years or more) are testament to their exceptional endurance.

Diet

Southern Royal Albatrosses primarily feed on squid, fish, and crustaceans. They often follow ships to scavenge discarded fish and offal.

These birds are known to dive up to 5 meters below the surface to catch prey, using their keen eyesight to spot food from great distances.

Behaviour

Southern Royal Albatrosses are known for their incredible long-distance flights, often covering thousands of kilometres in a single foraging trip. They are primarily solitary at sea but form strong pair bonds during the breeding season.

These birds are excellent gliders, using dynamic soaring to effortlessly ride wind currents over vast ocean expanses.

Vocalisation

Southern Royal Albatrosses are generally silent at sea but become more vocal during breeding season. Their calls include a variety of croaks, whistles, and grunts.

During courtship, they produce a distinctive 'trumpeting' call, often described as a loud, resonant 'aarrrah'. Chicks emit high-pitched begging calls when soliciting food from parents.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding occurs biennially, with pairs reuniting at nesting sites from October to November. Southern Royal Albatrosses form long-term monogamous partnerships, often lasting for decades. They perform elaborate courtship displays, including bill-clapping and sky-calling.

Nests are made of grass, soil, and feathers and built on exposed ridges or slopes. Females lay a single large white egg with brown speckles. Both parents share incubation duties, which last around 79 days.

Chicks are brooded for about a month and fledge after approximately 240 days. Young birds spend 3-7 years at sea before returning to their natal colonies to breed, typically starting at 6-12 years old.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Vulnerable [1]

The Southern Royal Albatross is classified as Vulnerable due to its restricted breeding range and threats from longline fishing.

Conservation efforts focus on reducing bycatch in fisheries, controlling invasive species on breeding islands, and monitoring population trends. Climate change poses an additional threat to their breeding habitats.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

27,200 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for them in the southern oceans, particularly around New Zealand's subantarctic islands
  • Observe their distinctive gliding flight pattern with long periods without flapping
  • Use their large size and predominantly white plumage for identification
  • Join a pelagic birding trip for the best chance of spotting them at sea
  • Visit breeding colonies on Campbell Island during the austral summer

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Toroa

Family:

Diomedeidae

Average Lifespan

28 to 50 years

Max Lifespan

58 years [4]

Predators

Adult Southern Royal Albatrosses have few natural predators at sea. On breeding grounds, eggs and chicks may fall prey to introduced species such as cats, rats, and pigs where present.

Did You Know?

  1. Southern Royal Albatrosses can fly over 190,000 km (around 118,000 miles) in a single year, circumnavigating the Southern Ocean multiple times.
  2. They have a special gland above their nasal passage that helps them excrete excess salt from seawater.
  3. These birds can live for over 50 years, with the oldest recorded individual reaching 58 years old.

References

  1. 1

    website: BirdLife International. 2018. Diomedea epomophora. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22698314A132641187.

    View source
  2. 2 3

    report, 1997: Moore et al.

  3. 4

    website, 2000: Carey and Judge, Longevity Records: Life Spans of Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish

    View source