Southern Royal Albatross

Diomedea epomophora

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.

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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