About the Short-tailed Albatross
The short-tailed albatross or Steller's albatross is a large rare seabird from the North Pacific. Although related to the other North Pacific albatrosses, it also exhibits behavioural and morphological links to the albatrosses of the Southern Ocean. It was described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas from skins collected by Georg Wilhelm Steller. Once common, it was brought to the edge of extinction by the trade in feathers, but with protection efforts underway since the 1950s, the species is in the process of recovering with an increasing population trend. It is divided into two distinct subpopulations, one of which breeds on Tori-shima in the Izu islands south of Japan, and the…
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The short-tailed albatross is a medium-sized albatross, with a wingspan of 213 to 240 cm (6.99–7.87 ft), a length of 84 to 94 cm (33–37 in) and a body weight that can be 4.3 to 8.5 kg (9.5–18.7 lb). Among standard measurements, the bill is 12.7–15.2 cm (5.0–6.0 in) long, the tail is 14–15.2 cm (5.5–6.0 in) long, the tarsus around 10 cm (3.9 in) and the wing chord 51 cm (20 in). Its plumage as an adult is overall white with black flight feathers, some coverts, as well as a black terminal bar on its tail. It has a yellow-stained nape and crown.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Short-tailed Albatross lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, China.
When to see the Short-tailed Albatross
Peak activity in March · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Waved AlbatrossPhoebastria irrorataThese are medium-sized albatrosses, measuring 80 to 90 cm (31 to 35 in) in length with a wingspan of 220–250 cm (7.2–8.2 ft).
Laysan AlbatrossPhoebastria immutabilisThe Laysan albatross averages 81 cm (32 in) in length and has a wingspan of 195 to 203 cm (77–80 in).
Black-footed AlbatrossPhoebastria nigripesThe black-footed albatross is a small member of the albatross family (while still large compared to most other seabirds) that has almost all black plumage.
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