Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris)
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Black-browed Albatross

Thalassarche melanophris (Temminck, 1828)

3.2 kgWeight

The black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris), also known as the black-browed mollymawk, is a large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae; it is the most widespread and common member of its family.

Busiest months: November · Most records: Falkland Islands, New Zealand, Australia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Black-browed Albatross has been recorded at 142 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 20 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Kaikoura – offshore – Albatross Encounter pelagicNew Zealand2,571 records
  2. Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic TripAustralia2,064 records
  3. Cape PembrokeFalkland Islands962 records
More places
  1. Bempton Cliffs RSPB ReserveUnited Kingdom885 records
  2. Quintero – PelágicoChile818 records
  3. Canal BeagleArgentina812 records
  4. Valparaíso – PelágicoChile784 records
  5. Sea Lion IslandFalkland Islands547 records
  6. West Point IslandFalkland Islands542 records
  7. Transbordador Pargua-ChacaoChile430 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Falkland IslandsNew ZealandAustraliaChileArgentinaUnited KingdomSouth Georgia & South Sandwich IslandsAntarctica

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris), also known as the black-browed mollymawk, is a large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae; it is the most widespread and common member of its family.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Black-browed Albatross?

The Black-browed Albatross weighs around 3.2 kg.

Where does the Black-browed Albatross live?

Its breeding range: Southern Ocean: islands of southern Chile, Falkland, South Georgia and South Sandwich (southeast of South Georgia), Crozet, Heard, Kerguelen (southwestern to southeastern Indian Ocean), Macquarie (far southeast of Australia), Antipodes, Snares and Campbell groups (southeastern, south of South Island; New Zealand). It is most often recorded in Falkland Islands, New Zealand and Australia.

When is the best time to see the Black-browed Albatross?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Black-browed Albatross endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-browed Albatross as Least Concern.

What does the Black-browed Albatross eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Black-browed Albatross in?

It belongs to the family Albatrosses (Diomedeidae), order Procellariiformes.

At a glance

Weight
3.2 kg
Habitat
Ocean
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
On the water surface
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
507 mm
Tail
195 mm
Bill
115 mm
Tarsus
78 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Southern Ocean: islands of southern Chile, Falkland, South Georgia and South Sandwich (southeast of South Georgia), Crozet, Heard, Kerguelen (southwestern to southeastern Indian Ocean), Macquarie (far southeast of Australia), Antipodes, Snares and Campbell groups (southeastern, south of South Island; New Zealand)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Albatrosses Diomedeidae
Genus
Thalassarche

Other birds in the genus Thalassarche

Atlantic Yellow-nosed AlbatrossAtlantic Yellow-nosed AlbatrossThalassarche chlororhynchosIndian Yellow-nosed AlbatrossIndian Yellow-nosed AlbatrossThalassarche carteriGrey-headed AlbatrossGrey-headed AlbatrossThalassarche chrysostomaBuller's AlbatrossBuller's AlbatrossThalassarche bulleriShy AlbatrossShy AlbatrossThalassarche cautaSalvin's AlbatrossSalvin's AlbatrossThalassarche salviniChatham AlbatrossChatham AlbatrossThalassarche eremitaCampbell AlbatrossCampbell AlbatrossThalassarche impavidaNorthern Royal AlbatrossNorthern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea sanfordiSouthern Royal AlbatrossSouthern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea epomophora
Black-browed Albatross

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by aeb95f. ↗

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