Antipodean Albatross — Australian Bird Identification Guide | BetterBirding

Bird guideAntipodean Albatross

Among the major experts, BirdLife International has split this species, Jim Clements has not yet, and the SACC has a proposal on the table to split it.

Spot this species Read on Wikipedia

⚠️Vulnerable

At a glance

FamilyAlbatrosses

SizeGiant

RarityUncommon

HabitatPelagic; mostly over open ocean, coming near land around breeding islands and sometimes seen from headlands or boats.

Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from August to October.

Sounds

Sound sample

0:000:00

Recorded by Dan Lane

Range map

Range map

Occurrence window

79approx hotspots

8675approx records

2states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Plumage highly variable, starting chocolate-brown with a white face and gradually becoming whiter over many years. Younger birds separated from Southern Royal Albatross by darker tail, brown markings on head and back, and lack of black “lips” on cutting edge of bill. Older birds more difficult to separate; focus on more coarsely marked upperwings, often with conspicuous white patch in center of wing, and lack of black “lips”. Often shows orange stain on cheek, never shown by Southern Royal. Identification from other Wandering-type Albatross is extremely difficult and often presumed by range. Older “Antipodean” often retain complete dark cap, tail, and upperwings.

Behavior

Ranges widely over the Southern Ocean to forage, returning to remote subantarctic islands to breed.

Gallery

Regional timing

New South Wales

Peak: August to October71 records

Victoria

Peak: March31 records

Tasmania

Peak: August21 records

Western Australia

Peak: March2 records

Queensland

Peak: June2 records

Commonly confused with

Salvin's AlbatrossThalassarche salviniThe bill on immatures is dark, dusky grayish with a black tip; mostly like adult in 3 years. Compare with the smaller Buller’s Albatross and rare Chatham Albatross.→Snowy AlbatrossDiomedea exulansYounger birds separated from Southern Royal Albatross by darker tail, brown markings on head and back, and lack of black “lips” on cutting edge of bill. Older birds more difficult to separate; focus on more coarsely marked upperwings, often with conspicuous white patch in center of wing, and lack of black “lips”. Often shows orange stain on cheek, never shown by Southern Royal. Identification from other Wandering-type Albatross, especially “Gibson’s” Antipodean and Tristan, extremely difficult and often presumed by range. Adult male Snowy is the whitest of any Wandering, but intermediate ages often best left unidentified.→Southern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea epomophoraYounger Southern Royals are more easily separated from Wandering-types by mostly dark upperwings, gradually attaining a finely snow-dusted appearance on the leading edge with age. Older birds can show extensively white upperwings, but markings are always finer than on Wandering-types, with less extensive white in the center of the wing. Southern Royals usually have all-white tails, sometimes with small dark markings; any bird with a largely dark tail can be identified as a Wandering-type. Southern Royal never has dirty brownish markings on head and body like many Wandering-types. Also note slightly longer, thinner bill and shallower forehead, which give Southern Royal a “snoutier” look than Wandering-types. From Northern Royal Albatross by white markings on the upperwing, especially on the leading edge. Youngest Southern Royals can have very narrow white leading edge; can require close scrutiny or good photographs to identify with confidence. Range averages further south than Northern Royal, but some overlap.→