Light-mantled sooty albatross
Scientific name: Phoebetria palpebrata
Physical description
Light-mantled sooty albatrosses have a dark grey head and a light grey body with a distinctive white crescent surrounding most of the eye.
They are one of the smaller albatross in the Antarctic and subantarctic, with a wingspan of approximately 2.2 metres.
Abundance
Light-mantled sooty albatross are the most abundant breeding albatrosses on Macquarie Island, where approximately 1000 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
Research shows that decreasing populations are due to the birds being caught in long-line fishing operations.
Breeding
Nests of light-mantled sooty albatross are made from mud with some plant material, and is usually lined with grasses. It is 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, i.e. once every two years. However, the fledging period of light-mantled sooty albatrosses is only five months, while the fledging period of wandering albatross is almost one year.
Diet and feeding
The diet of light-mantled sooty albatross is primarily composed of cephalopods and euphausiids, but they also take fish and carrion.
