Black-browed albatross
The black-browed albatross is a medium-sized seabird native to the southern oceans, recognized by the distinctive black strip of feathers over its eyes. It measures between 2.5 to 3 feet in length and has a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet, allowing it to glide gracefully on strong winds and air currents. This species is the most populous among the 22 albatross species and primarily inhabits the sub-Antarctic zone, although some individuals occasionally venture beyond the Equator.
Known for its remarkable eyesight, the black-browed albatross hunts for squid, fish, and crustaceans from heights of 50 to 65 feet above the water. These birds possess the unique ability to drink seawater, thanks to specialized nasal structures that filter out salt. They are monogamous and mate for life, with breeding occurring every other year after a lengthy courtship. Parent birds collaboratively build a nest and take turns incubating their single egg. After hatching, the chick is initially fed a nutrient-rich stomach oil before transitioning to solid food. While they can live for up to 30 years, some may exceed this lifespan. The black-browed albatross is not currently considered threatened, reflecting a stable population in its natural habitat.
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Black-browed albatross
The black-browed albatross is a medium-sized albatross which looks a great deal like a large sea gull. It is native to the world's southern oceans. Like the other albatrosses, it glides and soars on strong winds and air currents most of its life. This seabird may fly around the world several times before it lands on the ground. It is the most numerous of the 22 species of albatrosses.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Diomedeidae
Genus: Thalassarche
Species: Melanophris
The black-browed albatross is named for the strip of black feathers over the eyes of each adult of these white birds. Their bodies are 2 1/2 to three feet (83 to 93 centimeters) long and weigh six to 11 pounds (2 1/2 to 5 kilograms). White plumage, or feathering, covers nearly their entire bodies, except for their long, slender, dark wings, which span six to seven feet (two to three meters). They have dark brown upper wings with dark gray edges on the front of the undersides of their wings. Their backs are dark, and their tails are gray.
These medium-sized seabirds cruise the air currents and strong winds over the oceans of the southern hemisphere. They are most often in the sub-Antarctic zone between 30 and 60 degrees latitude. On rare occasions, some of these birds have crossed the Equator and flown off the coasts of Florida and Newfoundland. This is unusual for albatrosses, since they need strong winds to continue flying, and little if any wind blows across the Equator.
As they sail alone on the winds and air currents these albatrosses scan the water 50 to 65 feet (15 to 20 meters) beneath them for food. The birds' excellent vision allows them to see squid, fish, lampreys, and crustaceans swimming near the surface. They may also follow ships for days at a time and watch for garbage and food scraps to be thrown overboard. The albatrosses drink seawater and have the special ability to remove salt from their drinking water. Like many other seabirds, they have tubular nostrils in their long, yellow bills which help in the process of removing the salt. They also secrete smelly stomach oil through their nostrils which they squirt at intruders and attackers.
Black-browed albatrosses do not mate until they are seven to nine years old. Until they reach this age they fly across the oceans looking for food. They may fly several times around the world without ever touching dry ground until they return to mate. Birds which have not mated in previous years find a mate at the breeding grounds. Colonies gather on islands which are distant from land and removed from the threat of humans or predators. These albatrosses are monogamous, meaning they mate for life once they find a mate, but they only mate every other year. The males arrive first and then perform noisy courting displays with the females when they arrive. Each pair then builds a cup-shaped nest mound of mud or dirt. Each parent takes turns incubating the single, white, red-spotted egg until it hatches 71 days later. The chick receives regurgitated food from its parents. This food is in the form of a smelly stomach oil which the parents bring back from their stomachs after they have chewed and digested solid food. After one month, they leave the young bird at the nest to find food. As the chick grows, it no longer needs the stomach oil. The parents then feed the chick solid food, such as small fish, until the chick is nearly nine months old. The young albatross may grow to mate and to live for 30 years, although some may live over double that lifespan. The black-browed albatross is not considered a threatened species.
Bibliography
“Black-Browed Albatross.” Australian Antarctic Program, 16 Nov. 2018, www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/flying-birds/black-browed-albatross. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.
“Black-Browed Albatross - Thalassarche Melanophris.” Birds of the World, 2024, birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bkbalb/cur/introduction. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.