The black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris), also known as the black-browed mollymawk,[3] is a large
seabird of the
albatross family Diomedeidae; it is the most widespread and common member of its family.
Taxonomy
Mollymawks are albatrosses in the family
Diomedeidae and order
Procellariiformes, which also includes
shearwaters,
fulmars,
storm petrels, and
diving petrels. These birds share certain identifying features. They have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called
naricorns, although the nostrils on the albatross are on the sides of the bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates. They produce a
stomach oil made up of
wax esters and
triglycerides that is stored in the
proventriculus. This is used against predators as well as being an energy-rich food source for chicks and also for the adults during their long flights.[4] The albatross also has a
salt gland above the nasal passage which helps to remove salt from the ocean water that they imbibe. The gland excretes a high saline solution through the bird's nose.[5]
In 1998, Robertson and Nunn published their view that the
Campbell albatross (Thalassarche impavida), should be split from this species (T. melanophris).[6] Over the course of the next few years, others agreed, including
BirdLife International in 2000,[7] and Brooke in 2004.[8]James Clements did not adopt the split,[9] the
ACAP has not yet adopted the split, and the
SACC recognizes the need for a proposal.[10]
The origin of the name melanophris comes from two
Greek words melas or melanos, meaning "black", and ophris, meaning "eyebrow", referring to dark feathering around the eyes.[12]
Description
The black-browed albatross is a medium-sized albatross, at 80 to 95 cm (31–37 in) long with a 200 to 240 cm (79–94 in) wingspan and an average weight of 2.9 to 4.7 kg (6.4–10.4 lb).[3] It can have a natural lifespan of over 70 years. It has a dark grey saddle and upperwings that contrast with the white rump, and underparts. The underwing is predominantly white with broad, irregular, black margins. It has a dark eyebrow and a yellow-orange
bill with a darker reddish-orange tip. Juveniles have dark horn-colored bills with dark tips, and a grey head and collar. They also have dark underwings. The features that distinguish it from other mollymawks (except the closely related
Campbell albatross) are the dark eyestripe which gives it its name, a broad black edging to the white underside of its wings, white head and orange bill, tipped darker orange. The Campbell albatross is very similar but with a pale eye. Immature birds are similar to
grey-headed albatrosses but the latter have wholly dark bills and more complete dark head markings.
There are an estimated 1,220,000 birds alive with 600,853 breeding pairs, as estimated by a 2005 count. Of these birds, 402,571 breed in the
Falklands, 72,102 breed on
South Georgia Island, 120,171 breed on the
Chilean islands of Islas Ildefonso, Diego de Almagro, Islas Evangelistas, and Islas Diego Ramírez. 600 pairs breed on
Heard Island, Finally, the remaining 5,409 pairs breed on the remaining islands.[11][15][16] This particular species of albatross prefers to forage over
shelf and shelf-break areas. Falkland Island birds winter near the
Patagonian Shelf, and birds from South Georgia forage in
South African waters, using the
Benguela Current, and the
Chilean birds forage over the
Patagonian Shelf, the
Chilean Shelf, and even make it as far as
New Zealand. It is the most likely albatross to be found in the North Atlantic due to a northerly
migratory tendency. There have been 20 possible sightings in the
Continental United States.[17]
Colonies are very noisy as they bray to mark their territory, and also cackle harshly. They use their fanned tail in courting displays.[3]
Feeding
The black-browed albatross feeds on fish,
squid,
crustaceans,
carrion, and fishery discards.[18][19][20] This species has been observed stealing food from other species.[3]
Reproduction
This species normally nests on steep slopes covered with
tussock grass and sometimes on cliffs; however, on the
Falklands it nests on flat grassland on the coast.[7] They are an annual breeder laying one egg from between 20 September and 1 November, although the Falklands,
Crozet, and
Kerguelen breeders lay about three weeks earlier. Incubation is done by both sexes and lasts 68 to 71 days. After hatching, the chicks take 120 to 130 days to fledge. Juveniles will return to the colony after two to three years but only to practice courtship rituals, as they start breeding around the 10th year.[3]
Conservation
Until 2013, the
IUCN classified this species as
endangered due to a drastic reduction in population.[21]Bird Island near South Georgia Island had a 4% per year loss of nesting pairs,[16] and the
Kerguelen Island population had a 17% reduction from 1979 to 1995.[22]Diego Ramírez decreased in the 1980s but has rebounded recently,[23][24] and the
Falklands had a surge in the 1980s[14][25] probably due to abundant fish waste from trawlers;[26] however, recent censuses have shown drastic reduction in the majority of the nesting sites there.[15] There has been a 67% decline in the population over 64 years.[7]
Although this is a rare occurrence, on several occasions a black-browed albatross has summered in
Scottishgannet colonies (
Bass Rock,
Hermaness and now
Sula Sgeir) for a number of years. Ornithologists believe that it was the same bird, known as Albert, who lives in north
Scotland.[39][40] It is believed that the bird was blown off course into the North Atlantic in 1967.[40] A similar incident took place in the gannet colony in the
Faroe Islands island of
Mykines, where a black-browed albatross lived among the gannets for over 30 years. This incident is the reason why an albatross is referred to as a "gannet king" (
Faroese: súlukongur) in Faroese.[41] In July 2013 the first recorded sighting of a black-browed albatross in the Bahamas was made from the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation's research vessel, off Sandy Point,
Abaco. For four consecutive years from 2014 on, a bird - probably the same individual named Albert - has been sighted over
Heligoland, and on the east coast of England.[42][43][44][45]
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Arata, J.; Robertson, G.; Valencia, J.; Lawton, K (2003). "The Evangelistas Islets, Chile: a new breeding site for black-browed albatrosses". Polar Biology. 26 (10): 687–690.
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