Sooty Albatross
Phoebetria fusca
The Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca) is a rare albatross found in 7 countries, weighing about 2.6 kg. The sooty albatross, also known to sailors as the Quaker, is a species of marine bird belonging to the albatross family Diomedeidae.
About the Sooty Albatross
The sooty albatross, also known to sailors as the Quaker, is a species of marine bird belonging to the albatross family Diomedeidae. It is a medium-sized albatross that sports a sooty-brown or sooty-black color. It can be found in the southern Atlantic Ocean, the southern Indian Ocean, and the Southern Ocean. This bird scavenges for squid, fish, and carrion. Like other albatrosses, these birds mate for life and return to the same breeding spots every season. A single pair will mate every other year on a variety of islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean and the southern Indian Ocean islands. This bird is an endangered species and conservation efforts are taking place.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The sooty albatross is a medium-sized albatross, measuring about 85 cm (33 in) from head to tail, with a 2 m (6.6 ft) wingspan. Average adult body mass is about 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs), with males weighing more than females. Plumage ranges from a sooty-brown to a sooty-black color depending on the individual, but the head and sometimes tail are typically darker than the rest of the body. Around almost the entire eye, excluding the inner corner, a white ring is present. On the lower jaw, a yellow to orange line is present on the beak, which is otherwise a uniform glossy black.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Réunion.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in May. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Sooty Albatross?
- The sooty albatross is a medium-sized albatross, measuring about 85 cm (33 in) from head to tail, with a 2 m (6.6 ft) wingspan. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Sooty Albatross?
- The Sooty Albatross is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.6 kg.
- Where can you see a Sooty Albatross?
- The Sooty Albatross occurs in 7 countries, including South Africa, Australia and the Falkland Islands.
- What birds look similar to a Sooty Albatross?
- The Sooty Albatross is most easily confused with the Light-mantled Albatross.
- Is the Sooty Albatross endangered?
- The Sooty Albatross is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Sooty Albatross for real
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