Thalassarche melanophrys
black-browed albatross

Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophrys, can be found circumpolar in the southern hemisphere anywhere in the south Atlantic, but can travel further north with cold currents. Annually during the months of September and October, they breed on south Atlantic islands including the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, South Sandwich, and Cape Horn islands. (Mullay and Association, 1989; Tuck and Heinzel, 1978; del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross are marine, pelagic birds but commonly come inshore. It is typical for albatross to move toward shore during violent weather. They may travel thousands of kilometers off land in search of food. Their breeding grounds are often on steep slopes with tussock grass, cliff terraces, or level ground. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross are large birds ranging anywhere from 83 to 93 cm in length and weighing from 3 to 5 kg. They have broad, blunt wings with a wingspan of 240 cm. Their back is a dark grey which blends into blackish-grey scapulars. Their blackish-colored underwing is interrupted by a white central stripe that runs the length of the wing, though the prominence of the stripe is variable. They have a yellow bill with a pink tip that curves downward at the tip. Their head is white with a black line at the base of the bill and a black eyebrow encircling and tailing off behind the eye. The iris can range from a pale whitish color to amber. The birds display no sexual dimorphism.

Juvenile black-browed albatross have similar plumage to adults, however they have a ring of gray feathers around the nape of the neck. Juveniles also have some degree of black on their beaks. (Mullay and Association, 1989; Tuck and Heinzel, 1978; del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross are monogamous and often mate for life. Pairs often engage in mutualistic feeding rituals. Black-browed albatross often engage in beak touching and allopreening between mates. In general, albatross are well-known for elaborate courtship behaviors. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross breed from September or October to April. They are colonial during the breeding season and make their nests out of mud, grass, guano, and seaweed. They build nests that are on a volcano-shaped dome where they incubate a single egg for 71 days. The chicks are born with grayish white down and are brooded for one to four weeks. Chicks fledge after 120 days and they reach sexual maturity after 7 to 9 years. (Falklands Conservation, 2010; National Audubon Society, et al., 1976; del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Both parents participate in egg incubation which can last up to 71 days. Chicks are born precocial, with downy feathers and eyes open. Both parents feed the young. Parents tend the hatchling for several months, then abandon the chick before it fledges. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross in captivity have a maximum lifespan of 32.5 years. In the wild they generally live around 30 or more years but have been known to live as long as 70 years. (Wright, 2007)

Black-browed albatross are typically solitary while at sea, except when a large feeding opportunity exists. During the breeding season they amass in nesting colonies that can consist of over 180,000 pairs. They are highly mobile birds and will travel between 500 and 3,000 km to forage. They use their large wings to glide for incredible distances with limited energy expenditure. They are often seen following ships hundreds of miles offshore, simply gliding behind the ship. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross only establish territory in the breeding season. Breeding pairs will not allow another individual within 1.5 m of the nest. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross are generally silent, but will make a rapid grunting noise within breeding colonies. They also make beak-clapping noises. Breeding pairs will communicate through several different courtship behaviors such as allopreening and beak touching. Like all birds, black-browed albatross perceive their environments through visual, auditory, tactile, and chemical stimuli. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross mainly feed on crustaceans and fish but also squid and carrion (i.e. penguin corpses). A large portion of their diet consists of krill that they locate using a method known as local enhancement. This is when an albatross observes another albatross or foraging species successfully feeding and they come together to take advantage of the food source. They use their webbed feet to paddle themselves around and feed by surface-seizing or surface diving. They have often been known to follow trawlers looking for any discarded catch. (Grunbaum and Veit, 2003; del Hoyo, et al., 1992)

Black-browed albatross’ main threat is humans but they have also been known to be fed on by tiger sharks. Accidental death by long-line fishing methods poses the greatest threat to black-browed albatross. The recent population decline is believed to be caused by increases in local long-line fishing. In the past, mariners captured albatross for their meat and raided their colonies of nests for the eggs. Albatross eggs are often eaten by rats (Rattus) and chicks are preyed upon by skuas (Stercorarius). (National Audubon Society, et al., 1976)

As the main dietary component, fish populations are likely impacted by black-browed albatross. Little is known regarding symbiotic relationships.

There are no known positive effects of black-browed albatross on humans.

There are no known adverse effects of black-browed albatross on humans.

Black-browed albatross are currently listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List. The rationalization for their conservation status is the rapid decline in their populations. This decline is due to deaths attributed to long-line and trawl fisheries (net and line entanglement), disruption in prey populations, plastic ingestion, natural disasters (floods, fires, & volcanic activity), habitat destruction, pollution, and disease . (Croxall, 2006)