Black-footed Albatross
NameBlack-footed Albatross
Common NameBlack-footed Albatross
Scientific NamePhoebastria nigripes
FamilyDiomedeidae
Wingspan (cm)200
Length (cm)71
Weight (g)3200
Plumage DetailsAdults are mostly sooty brown to blackish, with a distinctive white patch at the base of the bill and a crescent-shaped white area under the eye. The bill is dark, and the feet are black.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include various grunts, groans, whistles, and bill-clapping, particularly during courtship displays at breeding colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusendangered
Geographic RangeFound throughout the North Pacific Ocean, breeding primarily on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but also on islands off Japan and Mexico.
Identifying FeaturesDark sooty brown plumage, White patch at bill base and under eye, Long, narrow wings for soaring, Large, dark bill, Black feet
Description
The Black-footed Albatross is a large seabird characterized by its dark plumage and long, narrow wings, perfectly adapted for soaring over the open ocean. It spends most of its life at sea, coming to land only to breed on remote Pacific islands.
