Light-mantled albatross

Last updated

Light-mantled albatross
Light sooty albatross flying.jpg
in flight
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Diomedeidae
Genus: Phoebetria
Species:
P. palpebrata
Binomial name
Phoebetria palpebrata
(Forster, 1785) [2]
Phoebetria palpebrata map.svg
Synonyms

Diomedea palpebrata [3]

The light-mantled albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata) also known as the grey-mantled albatross or the light-mantled sooty albatross, is a small albatross in the genus Phoebetria , which it shares with the sooty albatross. The light-mantled albatross was first described as Phoebetria palpebrata by Johann Reinhold Forster, in 1785, based on a specimen from south of the Cape of Good Hope. [4]

Contents

Physiology

Light-mantled albatrosses share some identifying features with other Procellariiformes. They have nasal tubes on the upper bill called naricorns, though with albatrosses these are on the sides of the upper mandible rather than the top. They also have a salt gland above the nasal passage which excretes a concentrated saline solution to maintain osmotic balance, due to the amount of seawater imbibed. [5] The bills of the Procellariiformes are unique in that they are covered with from seven to nine horny plates. These birds produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This can be sprayed out of their mouths as a defence against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. [6]

Description

The light-mantled albatross is largely sooty-brown or blackish, darker on the head, with paler upperparts from the nape to the upper tail-coverts which are grey to light grey, the palest on the mantle and back. The plumage has been described as being similar in appearance to the colouring of a Siamese cat. [7] The eyes are partly encircled with thin post-orbital crescents of very short grey feathers. [4] The bill is black with a blue sulcus [4] [8] and a greyish-yellow line along the lower mandible, and is about 105 mm (4.1 in). [9] Measurements show that males and females are similar in size, [10] with average length of 79 to 89 cm (31–35 in), [8] [9] [11] wing-span of 183 to 218 cm (72–86 in), [8] and weight of 2.5 to 3.7 kg (5.5–8.2 lb). [4] [11] [12]

Distribution and habitat

The light-mantled albatross has a circumpolar pelagic distribution in the Southern Ocean. It ranges in latitude from the pack-ice around Antarctica, with the southernmost record from 78°S in the Ross Sea, to about 35°S, with occasional sightings further north along the Humboldt Current. It breeds on several subantarctic islands including the Prince Edward Island, Marion Island, Crozet Islands, Amsterdam Island, St. Paul Island, Kerguelen Islands, Heard Island, Macquarie Island, Campbell Island, Auckland Islands, Antipodes Islands and South Georgia and at least on one island in the maritime Antarctic at 62°S on King George Island. [13] Except when breeding, its habitat is entirely marine, [11] and it will forage from the edges of the Antarctic pack-ice to about 40°S. [4] When foraging during the breeding season, the birds will remain closer to their nest sites. [9]

Behaviour

They have a loud shrill voice that is trumpet-like, and when threatened will snap their bills or utilize a throaty "gaaaa". [9] When courting, they will utilize aerial displays and formation flying. They will also use mutual calling with deviations in tone brought occurring by head positioning, and finally, they use their tail in displays more than other albatrosses. [4]

Light-mantled albatross sitting on nest Kerguelen - Phoebetria palpebrata.jpg
Light-mantled albatross sitting on nest
Light-mantled albatross, head detail Albatros fuligineux.jpg
Light-mantled albatross, head detail

Reproduction

The species breeds in loose colonies or small groups, and sometimes is a solitary breeder. [9] The nest is built on a vegetated cliff ledge, or a steep slope, sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds. Structurally it is a low mound of peat and mud, 15 to 30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) high and 45 to 55 cm (18–22 in) wide at the base, with a cupped hollow at the top. [10] It incorporates some plant material and a grass lining. Around October or November, [9] a single egg is laid, which is not replaced if lost. Both sexes incubate alternately in shifts that vary from a day or two up to nearly a month in length. The incubation period is 65 to 72 days. [4] After hatching in December or January, [9] which takes 3 to 5 days, [4] the chicks are brooded in shifts for about 20 days, following which they are left alone in the nests while the adults forage, returning to feed the chicks by regurgitation every 2 to 3 days. The entire nestling period from hatching to fledging, which occurs in May or June, [9] lasts 140 to 170 days. [4] [11] Pairs form committed pair-bonds which may last for decades, being renewed through complex courtship displays at the breeding site. On average, birds begin breeding when they are 8 to 15 years old, [4] after which they breed biennially, fledging a chick every five years or so. They are capable of breeding until at least 32 years old and living to 40 or longer. [12]

Breeding population and trends [9]
Breeding locationBreeding pairsTrend
Possession Island 996-13% over 15 years
Rest of Crozet Islands 1,404Unknown
South Georgia 5,000 to 7,500Unknown
Kerguelen Islands 3,000 to 5,000Unknown
Auckland Islands 5,000Unknown
Macquarie Island 2,000Unknown
Campbell Island 1,600Unknown
Antipodes Island 170Unknown
Heard Island 200 to 500Unknown
Marion Island 179Stable
Prince Edward Island 150Unknown
King George Island 5Unknown
Total58,000-20% to -29% over 100 years

Feeding

The principal diet of light-mantled albatrosses consists of squid and krill, [4] though other crustaceans and fish [9] [10] are taken as well as seal, penguin and petrel carrion. They sometimes feed in association with pilot whales and southern right whale dolphins, and occasionally follow ships. Food is usually taken on or close to the surface of the ocean, [11] within a depth of 5 m (16 ft), though there is a record of a 12 m (39 ft) dive. [12]

Conservation

The light-mantled albatross population is estimated at 58,000, from a 1998 estimate, and is declining. [9] Threats and population status are poorly quantified and the species is classified as near threatened, [1] [12] with an occurrence range of 44,300,000 km2 (17,100,000 sq mi). [9]

Potential predators on some breeding islands are giant petrels, feral cats and rodents. At sea they are threatened by bycatch in the longline fishery and through starvation by eating plastic marine debris.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2018). "Phoebetria palpebrata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22698448A132647449. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22698448A132647449.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Brands, S. (2008)
  3. American Ornithologists' Union (1998)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Robertson, C. J. R. (2003)
  5. Ehrlich, Paul R. (1988)
  6. Double, M. C. (2003)
  7. Pizzey, G. & Knight, F. (2003)
  8. 1 2 3 Dunn, J. L. $ Alderfer, J. (2006)
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 BirdLife International (2008)
  10. 1 2 3 Harrison, C. & Greensmith, A. (1993)
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Davies, J. N., et al. (1991)
  12. 1 2 3 4 Kerkove, B. & Lindsay, A. (2008)
  13. Lisovski et al. (2009)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-browed albatross</span> Large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae

The black-browed albatross, also known as the black-browed mollymawk, is a large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae; it is the most widespread and common member of its family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatham albatross</span> Species of bird

The Chatham albatross, also known as the Chatham mollymawk or Chatham Island mollymawk, is a medium-sized black-and-white albatross which breeds only on The Pyramid, a large rock stack in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand (Aotearoa). It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the shy albatross Thalassarche cauta. It is the smallest of the shy albatross group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-footed albatross</span> Species of bird

The black-footed albatross is a large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae from the North Pacific. All but 2.5% of the population is found among the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is one of three species of albatross that range in the northern hemisphere, nesting on isolated tropical islands. Unlike many albatrosses, it is dark plumaged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mollymawk</span> Genus of birds

The mollymawks are a group of medium-sized albatrosses that form the genus Thalassarche. The name has sometimes been used for the genus Phoebetria as well, but these are usually called sooty albatrosses. They are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, where they are the most common of the albatrosses. They were long considered to be in the same genus as the great albatrosses, Diomedea, but a study of their mitochondrial DNA showed that they are a monophyletic taxon related to the sooty albatrosses, and they were placed in their own genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antarctic petrel</span> Species of bird

The Antarctic petrel is a boldly marked dark brown and white petrel, found in Antarctica, most commonly in the Ross and Weddell Seas. They eat Antarctic krill, fish, and small squid. They feed while swimming but can dive from both the surface and the air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern giant petrel</span> Species of bird

The southern giant petrel, also known as the Antarctic giant petrel, giant fulmar, stinker, and stinkpot, is a large seabird of the southern oceans. Its distribution overlaps broadly with the similar northern giant petrel, though it overall is centered slightly further south. Adults of the two species can be distinguished by the colour of their bill-tip: greenish in the southern and reddish in the northern.

<i>Phoebetria</i> Genus of birds

The sooty albatrosses are small albatrosses from the genus Phoebetria. There are two species, the sooty albatross, Phoebetria fusca, and the light-mantled albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sooty albatross</span> Seabird in the family Diomedeidae

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Pacific albatross</span> Genus of birds

The North Pacific albatrosses are large seabirds from the genus Phoebastria in the albatross family. They are the most tropical of the albatrosses, with two species nesting in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, one on sub-tropical islands south of Japan, and one nesting on the equator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campbell albatross</span> Species of bird

The Campbell albatross or Campbell mollymawk, is a medium-sized mollymawk in the albatross family. It breeds only on Campbell Island and the associated islet of Jeanette Marie, in a small New Zealand island group in the South Pacific. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the black-browed albatross. It is a medium-sized black and white albatross with a pale yellow iris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian yellow-nosed albatross</span> Member of the albatross family, Diomedeidae

The Indian yellow-nosed albatross is a member of the albatross family, and is the smallest of the mollymawks. In 2004, BirdLife International split this species from the Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross; however Clements has not split it yet, and the SACC has not either, but recognises the need for a proposal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern royal albatross</span> Species of bird

The northern royal albatross or toroa, is a large seabird in the albatross family. It was split from the closely related southern royal albatross as recently as 1998, though not all scientists support that conclusion and some consider both of them to be subspecies of the royal albatross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape petrel</span> Species of bird

The Cape petrel, also called the Cape pigeon, pintado petrel, or Cape fulmar, is a common seabird of the Southern Ocean from the family Procellariidae. It is the only member of the genus Daption, and is allied to the fulmarine petrels, and the giant petrels. They are extremely common seabirds with an estimated population of around 2 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern royal albatross</span> Species of bird

The southern royal albatross or toroa, is a large seabird from the albatross family. At an average wingspan of above 3 m (9.8 ft), it is one of the two largest species of albatross, together with the wandering albatross. Recent studies indicate that the southern royal albatross may, on average, be somewhat larger than the wandering albatross in mass and have a similar wingspan, although other sources indicate roughly similar size for the two species and the wandering species may have a larger average wingspan in some colonies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tristan albatross</span> Large seabird from the family Diomedeidae

The Tristan albatross is a large seabird from the albatross family. One of the great albatrosses of the genus Diomedea, it was only widely recognised as a full species in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairy prion</span> Species of bird

The fairy prion is a small seabird with the standard prion plumage of blue-grey upperparts with a prominent dark "M" marking and white underneath. The sexes are alike. It is a small prion which frequents the low subantarctic and subtropic seas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-chinned petrel</span> Species of bird

The white-chinned petrel also known as the Cape hen and shoemaker, is a large shearwater in the family Procellariidae. It ranges around the Southern Ocean as far north as southern Australia, Peru and Namibia, and breeds colonially on scattered islands. The white-chinned petrel was formerly considered to be conspecific with the spectacled petrel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antarctic prion</span> Species of bird

The Antarctic prion also known as the dove prion, or totorore in Māori, is the largest of the prions, a genus of small petrels of the Southern Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvin's prion</span> Species of bird

Salvin's prion, also known as the medium-billed prion, is a species of seabird in the petrel family Procellariidae.

References