Scientific name: Phoebetria palpebrata
Physical description
Light-mantled sooty albatrosses have a dark grey head and a light grey body. They have a distinctive white crescent surrounding most of the eye.
They have a wingspan of approximately 2.2m. This makes them one of the smaller albatross in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic.
Distribution and abundance
Light-mantled sooty albatross are the most abundant breeding albatrosses on Macquarie Island, where approximately 1,000 pairs nest every year.
In the 19th century, light-mantled sooty albatrosses were named ‘Blue Bird’ by sealers because their plumage looked blue in strong Antarctic light.
Conservation status: near threatened with population trends decreasing.
Decreasing populations are due to the birds being caught in long-line fishing operations.
Breeding
Light-mantled sooty albatross make nests out of mud and plant material. Nests are usually lined with grasses. They are a low mound, 15–30 cm high and 45–55 cm at base.
Light-mantled sooty albatross are solitary nesters, although occasionally they will nest in small colonies of up to 15 nests. Little is known of their behaviour during the non-breeding period, which is spent entirely at sea.
The breeding cycle of light-mantled sooty albatross is the same as that of wandering albatross. They breed once every two years. The fledging period of light-mantled sooty albatrosses is 5 months.
Diet and feeding
Light-mantled sooty albatross mostly eat cephalopods and euphausiids. They also eat fish and carrion.
