Grey-headed Albatross

Thalassarche chrysostoma (Forster, JR, 1785)

3.5 kgWeight

The grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) also known as the gray-headed mollymawk, is a large seabird from the albatross family.

Busiest months: November · Most records: South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica, Australia

Endangered

Where and when it's recorded

Grey-headed Albatross has been recorded at 37 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 10 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

ElsehulSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands247 records
Drake PassageAntarctica183 records
Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic TripAustralia115 records

More places

Salisbury PlainSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands47 records
GrytvikenSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands41 records
Hercules BaySouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands35 records
Cooper BaySouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands26 records
Gold HarbourSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands23 records
Prion IslandSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands22 records
Fortuna BaySouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands19 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Antarctica Australia Falkland Islands French Southern Territories Argentina New Zealand Chile

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 grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) also known as the gray-headed mollymawk, is a large seabird from the albatross family. It has a circumpolar distribution, nesting on isolated islands in the Southern Ocean and feeding at high latitudes, further south than any of the other mollymawks. Its name derives from its ashy-gray head, throat and upper neck.

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

Questions

How big is the Grey-headed Albatross?

The Grey-headed Albatross weighs around 3.5 kg.

Where does the Grey-headed Albatross live?

Its breeding range: Southern Ocean: subantarctic islands of Ildefonso and Diego Ramirez (southwest of Tierra del Fuego), South Georgia, Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen (southwestern to southeastern Indian Ocean), Macquarie (far southeast of Australia) and Campbell islands (south of South Island, New Zealand). It is most often recorded in South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica and Australia.

When is the best time to see the Grey-headed Albatross?

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

Is the Grey-headed Albatross endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Grey-headed Albatross as Endangered.

What does the Grey-headed Albatross eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Grey-headed Albatross in?

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

At a glance

Weight: 3.5 kg
Habitat: Ocean
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: On the water surface
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Endangered

More measurements

Wing: 518 mm
Tail: 189 mm
Bill: 116 mm
Tarsus: 81 mm

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

Range

Southern Ocean: subantarctic islands of Ildefonso and Diego Ramirez (southwest of Tierra del Fuego), South Georgia, Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen (southwestern to southeastern Indian Ocean), Macquarie (far southeast of Australia) and Campbell islands (south of South Island, New Zealand)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2