Black-browed Albatross.
Photo: T Palliser © T Palliser
Distribution map of Diomedea melanophris
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Black-browed Albatross
Scientific name: Diomedea melanophris
Family: Diomedeidae
Order: Procellariiformes
- Featured Bird Groups
- Sea birds
What does it look like?
Description
The Black-browed Albatross is the most common albatross seen in southern Australian waters for most of the year, and is the only one of the mollymawks (another name for the smaller black-and-white albatrosses) with a yellow bill. The bill has a pink tip. The back, upper wings and tail are a slaty black. The underwing is white with broad black margins, especially the leading edge. The face is white, with a small black brow over a dark eye. The legs and feet are blue-grey to flesh-pink. This species is also called the Black-browed Mollymawk.
Similar species
The Shy Albatross, D. cauta, is similar to the Black-browed Albatross in body colour, but its bill is olive-grey, there is a dark line through the eye almost to the bill, and the underwing is mainly white with narrow black margins.
Where does it live?
Distribution
The Black-browed Albatross wanders throughout the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere, south of the sub-tropics. The Falkland Islands hold over 85% of the global population, making them the most important breeding location in the world for this species.
Habitat
The Black-browed Albatross lives on the wing over the southern oceans for most of the year.
Seasonal movements
Black-browed Albatrosses migrate in winter and spring to as far north as Geraldton on the west coast and the Tropic of Capricorn on the east coast, but they are most commonly seen off the south-east coast of the mainland and around Tasmania.
What does it do?
Feeding
Black-browed Albatrosses fly over the ocean surface, searching for plankton, squid, cuttlefish, crustaceans and fish, and follow ships for galley refuse and carrion. They settle on the water near fishing boats in anticipation of food.
Breeding
The Black-browed Albatross breeds colonially on many sub-Antarctic islands, including Heard and Macquarie Islands. It is a long-lived species, (30 years or more) with a strong bond to its birth colony and birds will generally take the same breeding partner each season. The nest is a solid pile of mud and guano (droppings) mixed with some tussock grass and seaweed and is re-used each year. The nests are made on terraces on top of coastal tussocky cliffs and steep slopes up to 300m above sea level. Newly hatched chicks are covered with pale grey down, and are fed by both parents. Young birds leave the nest between mid-March and early April.
Living with us
Living with humans
Long-line fishing snares and drowns many Black-browed Albatrosses.References
Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. 1997. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Simpson, K and Day, N. 1999. Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th Edition. Penguin Books, Australia.
Higgins, P.J. and S.J.J.F. Davies (eds) 1996. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 3 (Snipe to Pigeons). Oxford University Press, Victoria.
Slater, P, Slater, P, and Slater, R 1989. The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds. Lansdowne. Revised edition.
Woehler, E. and J. Trebilco. 2002. Black-browed Albatross. Fact sheet. Australian Antarctic Division website, accessed 30-05-06. URL: http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=1960