Short Tailed Albatross Species Overview

The Short-Tailed Albatross is a majestic bird species that's native to the North Pacific Ocean. It's the largest of the three albatross species found in the region.

These incredible birds can grow up to 35 inches in length, with a wingspan of up to 7.5 feet. That's massive!

The Short-Tailed Albatross is a long-lived species, with some individuals living up to 65 years in the wild. That's a remarkable lifespan for a bird.

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The short-tailed albatross is a large bird with a distinctive appearance. Adults have a white head and body, with a golden cast to the crown and nape.

One of the most striking features of the short-tailed albatross is its disproportionately large pink bill. This bill is hooked at the tip and becomes progressively bluer with age.

The tail of the short-tailed albatross is white, with a black terminal bar. This is a distinguishing feature from other albatross species.

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The short-tailed albatross is the largest albatross species in the North Pacific, with a wingspan of 84 to 90 inches. Its long, narrow wings are perfectly suited for soaring above the water surface.

Adult short-tailed albatrosses can grow up to 37 inches in length, making them a truly impressive sight.

For another approach, see: Phoebastria Nigripes

Short-tailed albatrosses can be found nesting on four islands, with the majority on Tori-shima and the rest on Minami-kojima in the Senkaku Islands.

During non-breeding season, they range across the North Pacific, with males and juveniles gathering in the Bering Sea, and females feeding off the coast of Japan and eastern Russia. They can also be found as far east as California.

The species has been extirpated as a breeder from several islands, including Kita-no-shima, Enewetak Atoll, and the Bonin Islands.

Short-tailed albatross spend most of their time at sea searching for food, congregating in areas of upwelling where smaller prey is brought to the surface.

They primarily feed along continental shelf-break areas east of Honshu, Japan, and in shelf break areas of the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and other North Pacific waters.

The population of short-tailed albatross is estimated to be 7,365, with 1,011 breeding pairs amongst all locales.

Recolonization efforts began in the late 1970s, and the population is now growing at an average rate of 8.9 percent per year.

Short-tailed albatross are still vulnerable due to the main breeding colony being located on an unstable volcanic island.

They can be found in the Sea of Okhotsk, across a broad region of the Bering Sea and the west coast of North America, and some individuals spend time in the oceanic waters between Hawaii and Alaska.

Sub-adults travel greater daily distances than adults, up to 134 kilometers a day.

For more insights, see: Wandering Albatross Size

Short-tailed albatrosses are part of the family Diomedeidae, which also includes shearwaters, fulmars, storm petrels, and diving petrels.

They share some unique identifying features, such as nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns, and bills that are split into between seven and nine horny plates.

These distinctive features are found in the Procellariiformes order, which includes the short-tailed albatross and its relatives.

Short-tailed albatrosses belong to the family Diomedeidae, order Procellariiformes, along with other seabirds like shearwaters and fulmars.

Their bills are unique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates.

The species is divided into two major clades/populations, one of which exclusively breeds on Tori-shima.

These two populations are genetically, morphologically, and behaviourally distinct, preferring to mate with their own kind.

They have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns, and although the nostrils are on the sides of the bill, this is still a distinctive feature.

Their salt gland is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies by excreting a high saline solution from their nose.

They also produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides, which is stored in the proventriculus and used against predators and as an energy-rich food source.

The short-tailed albatross is also known as a Diomedeidae, which is its family classification. This classification is a key part of its taxonomy.

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This bird is the largest seabird found in Hawai‘i, which is a notable distinction in its classification. Its scientific name is not explicitly mentioned in the article sections.

The short-tailed albatross is known to have occurred among nesting mōlī or Laysan (P. immutabilis) and ka‘upu or black-footed (P. nigripes) albatross at Midway Atoll.

The short-tailed albatross is often confused with other albatross species, but it has some key characteristics that set it apart.

One of the main ways to distinguish the short-tailed albatross from other species is by its bill color. The short-tailed albatross has a large pink bill, while the black-footed albatross has a small dark bill.

The short-tailed albatross is also significantly larger than the black-footed and Laysan albatrosses. In fact, it's one of the largest albatross species in the North Pacific.

The short-tailed albatross has a distinctive white back in its adult plumage, which is a key identifier that sets it apart from the black-footed and Laysan albatrosses.

Short-tailed albatross are expert soaring birds, gliding on air currents over marine waters and seeking out prey. They are not diving birds and must feed opportunistically on prey that floats to the surface of marine waters.

Short-tailed albatross can mistakably eat floating debris like plastics and other trash that they find floating at the surface in the Pacific Ocean, and can feed this to their chicks, which can die from ingesting plastic. They follow commercial fishing vessels as they look for bite-sized scraps, like discards from seafood processing, and bait like that used in commercial longlining fishing.

Short-tailed albatross are monogamous and return to the same breeding site year after year, with young birds occasionally dispersing to attempt to breed elsewhere. They begin breeding between 5 and 6 years of age, and each breeding cycle lasts about eight months.

Short-tailed albatross are expert soaring birds, gliding on air currents over marine waters to seek out prey.

They must feed opportunistically on prey that floats to the surface of marine waters, which can sometimes be mistaken for trash like plastics and other debris.

These birds can eat floating debris, including plastics, and feed it to their chicks, which can be deadly.

Albatross and chicks can die from ingesting plastic, highlighting the importance of marine conservation.

Short-tailed albatross follow commercial fishing vessels to feed on bait lines and processing scraps, which now constitute a notable portion of their calorie intake.

They also follow whaling vessels, but this behavior is more historical.

Short-tailed albatross are monogamous birds, returning to the same breeding site year after year, although young birds may occasionally disperse to breed elsewhere.

They begin breeding between 5 and 6 years of age, with each breeding cycle lasting about eight months. Most birds arrive on breeding grounds in October, but up to 25% of breeding-age adults may not return to the colony in a given year.

Parents alternate foraging trips that may last two to three weeks, while taking turns incubating the egg, which hatches from late December through January. The first few days after hatching, the chick is fed on stomach oil, rich in calories and vitamin A.

As the chicks grow, they are fed more solid food, like squid and flying fish eggs. By late May or early June, when the chicks are almost fully-grown, the adults begin abandoning the colony site. The chicks fledge soon after the adults leave the colony, usually by mid-July.

Short-tailed albatross are a long-lived species, with a life span of up to 50 years.

The short-tailed albatross feeds mainly on squid, but will also follow ships for their discarded offal. They are opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of whatever food sources are available.

Short-tailed albatross feed at the water surface, targeting prey like squid, crustaceans, and fish. They often hunt at night, when squid are most active.

Ocean surface feeders rely primarily on squid, flying fish, fish eggs, and crustaceans. They also follow fishing vessels for bait lines and processing scraps.

Short-tailed albatross generally feed at night when hunting squid. This nocturnal feeding behavior allows them to capitalize on the squid's active nighttime hours.

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The short-tailed albatross is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, with an occurrence range of 34,800,000 km (13,400,000 sq mi) and a breeding range of 9 km (3.5 sq mi).

This species was hunted to near-extinction by 1949, with an estimated five million birds harvested from one island colony alone between 1885 and 1903. The short-tailed albatross is designated as a “National Monument” in Japan, and regulations now prohibit harvest of this species.

The IUCN Red List ranks this species as vulnerable, while NatureServe lists it as critically imperiled. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) lists the short-tailed albatross as endangered throughout its range, and it is also listed as an endangered species by the State of Alaska.

The short-tailed albatross is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, with an occurrence range of 34,800,000 km and a breeding range of 9 km.

Historically, this species was hunted to near-extinction, with estimates suggesting over 10 million birds were destroyed in the 19th century. The species was assumed to be extinct after the last albatrosses on Torishima were killed, but an estimated 50 individuals survived at sea.

Today, the species is protected by Japan, Canada, and the United States, and Tori-shima is a National Wildlife Protection Area. Native plant species are being transplanted to assist in nesting.

Here are some key conservation status facts for the short-tailed albatross:

In 2017, a wild short-tailed albatross born to an artificially-raised mother returned to the Bonin Islands, marking the first time a wild bird had returned in roughly 80 years.

The short-tailed albatross is unlikely to have physiological sensitivity to climate change, but its sensitivity will be increased by potential shifts in prey availability.

Their breeding habitat is unlikely to be affected by climate change.

Albatross primarily forage in areas with strong upwelling and high oceanic productivity along the continental shelf.

Potential shifts in ocean circulation could limit the availability of prey, such as squid, crustaceans, and flying fish.

A northward shift of primary prey species like squid could result in a northward shift in albatross populations.

The short-tailed albatross is the largest seabird found in Hawai‘i.

They have a distinctive appearance, with adult males and females being mostly white, featuring varying amounts of black on the upper side of the wings, and a golden wash on the head.

Their huge pink bill has a bluish tip, and their legs and feet are pale pink.

They use air currents to glide and soar for long periods of time.

This unique ability allows them to cover vast distances while foraging for food.

Their diet consists of shrimp, squid, and fish, including bonita, flyingfish, and sardines in Japan.

They also scavenge from carrion and follow fishing boats to find food.

The short-tailed albatross has a life span of at least 50 years.

This impressive age is likely due to their ability to adapt to different environments and find reliable food sources.

They have been known to forage closer to land than other albatross species, making them a fascinating sight to spot.