Sooty Albatross
A species of Sooty albatrosses, Also known as Dark-mantled Albatross Scientific name : Phoebetria fusca Genus : Sooty albatrosses
Sooty Albatross, A species of Sooty albatrosses
Also known as:
Dark-mantled Albatross
Botanical name: Phoebetria fusca
Genus: Sooty albatrosses
Content
Description General Info
Description
The sooty albatross is a medium-sized albatross, measuring about 85 cm (33 in), with a 2 m (6.6 ft) wingspan. Adult body mass ranges from 2.1 to 3.4 kg (4.6 to 7.5 lb). It is sooty-brown with darker shading on the sides of its head. It has a white crescent above and behind its eye. Its bill is black with an orange or yellow sulcus. The tail of this albatross is wide diamond-shaped. Juveniles are similar to adults, although they can have paler feathers on the nape and upper back, possibly creating confusion with light-mantled albatross.
Size
89 cm
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
Sooty Albatross primarily dine on squid, crustaceans, cephalopods, and fish, occasionally scavenging carrion. They exhibit unique foraging by following ships for offal, displaying opportunistic surface-seizing and adept diving. Their diet reflects specialized adaptations for marine feeding.
Habitat
The sooty Albatross typically inhabits marine and pelagic environments, rarely venturing close to land except during breeding seasons. They are found across broader regions of the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Their breeding grounds encompass remote oceanic islands where they favor steep, vegetated slopes and cliffs, particularly those with tussock grass, though they may also nest on flatter terrain.
Dite type
Piscivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Species Status
The IUCN ranks the sooty albatross as endangered with an occurrence range of 40,800,000 km (15,800,000 sq mi) and a breeding range of 1,900 km (730 sq mi). A 1998 estimate placed the population at 42,000 adult birds. Populations have shrunk 75% over the last 90 years, although the rate of reduction has recently slowed. The 21st century has so far seen stable populations at Gough Island. This species is not excessively affected by longline fisheries, but instead by domestic cats eating eggs and chicks on Amsterdam Island and the Kerguelen Islands. Avian cholera, pasteurellosis, and erysipelas are major threats. Illegal poaching has nearly ceased. Studies and surveys are conducted to assist in slowing its demise. It is a protected species on the Tristan da Cunha group, Gough Island is a World Heritage Site, and Prince Edward Island, Gough Island, and Inaccessible Island in the Tristan da Cunha group are protected nature preserves. Also, in 2007, the Crozet Islands, Amsterdam Island, and the Kerguelen Islands were declared nature preserves.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Albatrosses and Petrels Family
Albatrosses Genus
Sooty albatrosses Species
Sooty Albatross