Diomedeidae bird family

Order Procellariiformes · 15 selected species

Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.

Antipodean AlbatrossDiomedea antipodensisHuge albatross of the Southern Ocean. Two subspecies: “Gibson’s” breeds primarily on Auckland Island and ranges at sea around New Zealand and eastern Australia; “Antipodean” breeds mostly on Antipodes and Campbell Islands and ranges mainly across Pacific to Humboldt Current off Chile. Plumage highly variable, starting chocolate-brown with a white face and gradually becoming whiter over many years. Younger birds separated from Southern Royal Albatross by darker tail, brown markings on head and back, and lack of black “lips” on cutting edge of bill. Older birds more difficult to separate; focus on more coarsely marked upperwings, often with conspicuous white patch in center of wing, and lack of black “lips”. Often shows orange stain on cheek, never shown by Southern Royal. Identification from other Wandering-type Albatross is extremely difficult and often presumed by range. Older “Antipodean” often retain complete dark cap, tail, and upperwings.

Atlantic Yellow-nosed AlbatrossThalassarche chlororhynchosMassive seabird, but relatively small and slender for an albatross. Breeds on Gough and Tristan da Cunha islands in South Atlantic, ranging mainly at subtropical latitudes in Atlantic, rarely east to Indian Ocean or further north in Atlantic. On adult, note soft gray hood (whiter on crown), more extensively gray than on cheek of Indian Yellow-nosed. Young birds paler-headed with dark gray smudge around eye; some difficult or impossible to separate from Indian Yellow-nosed. Bill is long, thin, and black, with yellow-orange stripe along the top ridge (culmen) on adults. Also look for thicker black leading edge on underwing to help separate from White-capped Albatross at a distance. Also compare with Gray-headed and Black-browed Albatross; note underwing pattern, bill pattern, head color.

Black-footed AlbatrossPhoebastria nigripesVery large seabird, overall cold brown with whitish face. Some adults show a slightly paler belly. Juveniles are darker brown overall. Often seen alone, but frequently joins mixed feeding flocks with other seabirds and gulls. Breeds primarily in Hawaii and on islands off Japan; otherwise fairly common and wide-ranging in the North Pacific. Rarely seen from shore. Size and shape distinctive; dark body separates from rarer Laysan Albatross and long, narrow wings distinguish from Brown Pelican. Feeds on squid, flying fish, and flying fish eggs.

Buller's AlbatrossThalassarche bulleriBreeds in New Zealand and ranges across the temperate South Pacific to the Humboldt Current; uncommon off Chile and Peru. All ages have thick black leading edge on the underwing, wider than the narrower black edge on larger Salvin’s and Chatham Albatrosses, and narrower than on stockier Gray-headed Albatross, a bird of cold subantarctic waters. Adult Buller’s has gray hood with silvery white crown and thick yellow edges on black bill. First-year birds have a paler gray hood, a pale bill with black “seam lines,” and black subterminal band; mostly like adult in 3 years. Compare with immature of larger Salvin’s Albatross.

Chatham AlbatrossThalassarche eremitaA medium-sized albatross with a thin black border outlining the white underside of the wing with extensive black wingtips. Dark gray head is lighter on the crown. Note bright yellow bill with conspicuous black spot at tip of lower mandible. Only breeds on The Pyramid, an isolated island in the Chatham Islands. Similar to Salvin’s Albatross, which has a grayish bill and a lighter gray head and neck. Buller’s Albatross is smaller and has a broad black leading edge on the underwing. Immature Salvin’s, Bullers, and Chatham Island Albatrosses all look similar, but the Chatham Albatross has the darkest gray head, with some yellow shown on bill.

Gray-headed AlbatrossThalassarche chrysostomaRarely found north of cold subantarctic waters; ranges south to pack-ice in summer. Adult has a gray head, thick black underwing margins like much commoner Black-browed Albatross. Immatures look similar to Black-browed overall, but told by black bill that soon develops yellow along top, and often with variable gray hood. Yellow bill edges narrower than the more lightly built Buller’s Albatross, which occurs to the north but is often mistaken for Gray-headed.

Laysan AlbatrossPhoebastria immutabilisA large seabird with very long, narrow wings; much larger than shearwaters and petrels. Unmistakable with white body, dingy pinkish bill, and dark markings on underwing. Fairly common offshore throughout North Pacific, as far north as the Bering Sea. Occasionally seen from shore. Breeds mainly in Hawaii, where it is often confiding and unafraid of humans. Nests on the ground in coastal areas of Kauai and northern Oahu; abundant in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Smaller colonies also exist off Japan and Mexico. Calls include whinnying, low cow-like “moo,” soft grunts, and squeals. Also claps bill.

Northern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea sanfordiHuge albatross of the Southern Ocean; breeds mainly on Chatham Islands in New Zealand, but ranges widely. Especially numerous in Humboldt Current off western South America. Easily separated at a distance from smaller albatrosses by white back. From the Wandering Albatross complex (including Snowy, Tristan, Antipodean, and Amsterdam Albatrosses) by uniformly dark upperwings at all ages with otherwise clean white appearance (including mostly white tail, occasionally with small black markings). This combination of features is never shown by Wandering-types, and Northern Royal never has dirty brownish markings on head and body or a mostly black tail. At close range, note the diagnostic narrow black “lips” on cutting edge of bill, lacking on Wandering-types. Also note slightly longer, thinner bill and shallower forehead, which give Northern Royal a “snoutier” look than Wandering-types. Very similar to Southern Royal Albatross; best separated by uniformly dark upperwings, especially on the leading edge. Youngest Southern Royals can also have dark upperwings with very narrow white leading edge; can require close scrutiny or good photographs to identify with confidence. Range averages further north than Southern Royal, but some overlap.

Salvin's AlbatrossThalassarche salviniBreeds in New Zealand and ranges across temperate South Pacific to Humboldt Current, where it is by far the most numerous “gray-hooded” albatross off Chile and Peru. All ages have gray hood, narrow black leading edge on the underwing (wider and messier on immature). Adult has a dirty pale yellowish bill with duskier sides and a black spot near tip. The bill on immatures is dark, dusky grayish with a black tip; mostly like adult in 3 years. Compare with the smaller Buller’s Albatross and rare Chatham Albatross.

Short-tailed AlbatrossPhoebastria albatrusGradually increasing after near extinction in the 20th century but still the rarest of the three North Pacific albatross species. Adult is striking: white overall, with dark wings, white upperwing coverts, a rich yellow nape, and bright pink bill. Juvenile blackish brown with pink bill; young birds attain increasing amounts of white in plumage as they age. Forages over a large pelagic range but sometimes seen from shore.

Snowy AlbatrossDiomedea exulansHuge albatross of the Southern Ocean; the southernmost breeder of the Wandering Albatross complex (including Snowy, Tristan, Antipodean, and Amsterdam albatrosses). Main colonies on South Georgia in the South Atlantic, and various islands in the southern Indian Ocean, but ranges extensively at sea. Plumage highly variable, starting chocolate-brown with a white face and gradually becoming whiter over many years. Younger birds separated from Southern Royal Albatross by darker tail, brown markings on head and back, and lack of black “lips” on cutting edge of bill. Older birds more difficult to separate; focus on more coarsely marked upperwings, often with conspicuous white patch in center of wing, and lack of black “lips”. Often shows orange stain on cheek, never shown by Southern Royal. Identification from other Wandering-type Albatross, especially “Gibson’s” Antipodean and Tristan, extremely difficult and often presumed by range. Adult male Snowy is the whitest of any Wandering, but intermediate ages often best left unidentified.

Sooty AlbatrossPhoebetria fuscaA beautiful smoky-brown albatross with bright white eye crescents and an orange line running down the bill that gives this otherwise regal bird a goofy appearance. Unlike the otherwise similar Light-mantled Albatross, the present species’ dark head does not contrast with the rest of the body. Also note Light-mantled’s less obvious blue-gray bill line. Dark morph giant-petrels can be similar at a glance, but have larger, bulbous pink bills, and average more long-necked and hunch-backed in appearance. A pelagic species, ranging throughout much of the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Nests on a handful of islands in that region, favoring areas with steep rocky slopes and tussock grass.

Southern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea epomophoraHuge albatross of the Southern Ocean; breeds mainly on Campbell and Auckland Islands in New Zealand, but ranges widely. Easily separated at a distance from smaller albatrosses by white back. All ages can be separated from the Wandering Albatross complex (including Snowy, Tristan, Antipodean, and Amsterdam Albatrosses) at close range by diagnostic narrow black “lips” on cutting edge of bill. Younger Southern Royals are more easily separated from Wandering-types by mostly dark upperwings, gradually attaining a finely snow-dusted appearance on the leading edge with age. Older birds can show extensively white upperwings, but markings are always finer than on Wandering-types, with less extensive white in the center of the wing. Southern Royals usually have all-white tails, sometimes with small dark markings; any bird with a largely dark tail can be identified as a Wandering-type. Southern Royal never has dirty brownish markings on head and body like many Wandering-types. Also note slightly longer, thinner bill and shallower forehead, which give Southern Royal a “snoutier” look than Wandering-types. From Northern Royal Albatross by white markings on the upperwing, especially on the leading edge. Youngest Southern Royals can have very narrow white leading edge; can require close scrutiny or good photographs to identify with confidence. Range averages further south than Northern Royal, but some overlap.

Waved AlbatrossPhoebastria irrorataLarge and gangly seabird that nests only in Galápagos and on Isla de la Plata (a small island near Ecuador’s central coast). When not breeding, it disperses over the eastern Pacific Ocean as far south as Chile. The only albatross likely to be seen in and near Galápagos. Adult is brown with a white head and neck and a large, yellow bill. Head and neck have a slight yellow tinge. Young birds are almost all brown and gradually develop the white head. Can be seen on land only at nesting sites, where pairs engage in elaborate courtship displays. Outside of the breeding season, it is usually only encountered far out to sea.