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MarinePlatform nestHuge · 4.4 kg
ID tip
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.
When to see the Short-tailed Albatross
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 10 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is March, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Short-tailed Albatross
The map shades 3 countries with regular records, and 3 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, China.
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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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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