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Black-footed Albatross

Phoebastria nigripesOrder: PROCELLARIIFORMES Family: Albatross (Diomedeidae)
Codes: Common Name: BFAL Scientific Name: PHONIG ITIS Taxonomic No.: 554379
Endangered
 
Black-footed Albatross
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Overview

Black-footed Albatross: Large seabird with long wings, gray-black body, and white ring around face at base of bill. Uppertail coverts are pale gray. Most have dark undertail coverts, some have white undertail and belly. The most frequently sighted albatross off the Pacific Coast of North America.

Range and Habitat

Black-footed Albatross: Breeds primarily in and around the Hawaiian archipelago. Preferred habitats include open sea and low, flat islands.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

Generally silent

Interesting Facts

 The Black-footed Albatross is the most commonly sighted albatross off of the western coast of North America, and is easily distinguished from other albatross species by its dark plumage and smaller size.

 Nesting primarily on remote beaches in the Hawaiian archipelago, individuals are known to undertake journeys from Hawaiian nesting grounds to northern California to find food for their young.

 Chicks live on a diet of flying fish eggs and squid oil. The rich squid and stomach oil is filled with fatty acids and nutrients that can sustain a chick for a number of days while the parent goes out to sea in search of more food.

 A group of albatrosses are known collectively as a "flight", "rookery", and "weight" of albatrosses.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Irina Rud-Volga

Splitbar
Range Map for Black-footed Albatross

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Family Albatross (Diomedeidae)_blue
Species Phoebastria nigripes
Length32 Inches
Wingspan75 Inches

Black-footed Albatross

Black-footed Albatross: Large seabird with long wings, gray-black body, and white ring around face at base of bill. Uppertail coverts are pale gray. Most have dark undertail coverts, some have white undertail and belly. The most frequently sighted albatross off the Pacific Coast of North America.

● Song: Generally silent

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-footed Albatross: Feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans, and squid. Often follows ships at sea for food, usually feeding on garbage thrown overboard.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-footed Albatross: One creamy white egg is laid in a shallow depression in sand. Incubation ranges from 63 to 68 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Black-footed Albatross: Short-tailed Albatross has pink bill and legs. Laysan Albatross has white body and head.

Flight Pattern

Dynamic soaring., Glides for hours.
Black-footed Albatross Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Black-footed Albatross: Breeds primarily in and around the Hawaiian archipelago. Preferred habitats include open sea and low, flat islands.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial, Mates for life
PopulationStable, Yes but uncommon
MigrationMigratory
Weight110.4 Ounces
Perching-like BodyX
Undertail covertsX
Small feathers that cover the areas where the retrices (tail feathers) attach to the rump.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
FaceX
The front part of the head consisting of the bill, eyes, cheeks and chin.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX