Antarctica (NB), Argentina (NB), Atlantic (Antarctic) (B) (NB), Australia (B), Chile (NB), Eastern Indian Ocean (NB), Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (NB), French Southern Territories (B), Heard Island and McDonald Islands (B), Indian Ocean (Antarctic) (B) (NB), New Zealand (B), Pacific (Antarctic) (NB), South Africa (B), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (B), Southeast Atlantic (NB), Southeast Pacific (NB), Southwest Atlantic (NB), Southwest Pacific (B) (NB), Western Indian Ocean (B) (NB).
Vagrant to Brazil (NB), French Polynesia, Mauritius.
Circumpolar in Southern Ocean, breeding from South Georgia east to Campbell and Antipodes Is.
Population
Estimated population is 58,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Longline fishing and introduced predators at their New Zealand breeding grounds are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Cuttle-fish and other marine life, as well as galley-refuse from ships.
Voice
A wild double-note 'pee-aa' at breeding grounds. Bill clapping during courstship and in defense. Ghostly trumpeting when fighting for food.
Light-mantled Albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata) [XC863983]
by id from Sourcil Noir, France (call, song)
Light-mantled Albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata) [XC623808]
by Hichem MACHOUK from Mayes, France (?)
Nest
Either a slight, flattish, platform or a mound, composed of earth and grass, up to 30 centimeters high, the bowl sometimes lined with grass, on the ground. Solitary or in small colonies.
Eggs (Guide)
1; with with a zone of red spots; ellipsoidal; about 102 x 66 mm. Incubation: 63 - 67 days; by both sexes.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 126 - 133 days.
Subspecies
Formerly regarded as conspecific with Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca), but differences in courtship display and timing of breeding prevent interbreeding at sites of overlap.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca), which has a darker mantle and underparts, and immature Giant Petrels, which have pale, heavy, tube-nose bills, and also lack the light mantle and underparts.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet