Black-browed Albatross

Thalassarche melanophris (Temminck, 1828) AA BLBAL 140
Family: Procellariiformes > Diomedeidae

Black-browed Albatross, Yoav Perlman

One of the smaller albatrosses, only a handful of individuals have been recorded here, but some have returned each summer (usually to a Gannet colony) for many years.

Perhaps the most famous of these visitors was "Albert" (fully Albert Ross), who first appeared on the Bass Rock in 1967, then subsequently at Hermanness, Shetland almost annually from 1972 to 1995.

In recent years another summering individual has joined Gannets at the Bempton Cliffs seabird colony in Yorkshire, giving many UK birdwatchers a chance to see this impressive species.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Black-browed Albatross

  • Breeding
  • Winter

Identification

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Black-browed Albatross winter distribution 2008-11
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

SEASONALITY

With the exception of vagrant birds returning to seabird colonies, Black-browed Albatross is a very rare species with sporadic records during autumn seawatching season.

Weekly occurence of Black-browed Albatross from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Black-browed Albatross, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Albatros Aelddu
Catalan: albatros cellanegre
Czech: albatros cernobrvý
Danish: Sortbrynet Albatros
Dutch: Wenkbrauwalbatros
Estonian: mustkulm-albatross
Finnish: mustakulma-albatrossi
French: Albatros à sourcils noirs
German: Schwarzbrauenalbatros
Hungarian: dolmányos albatrosz
Icelandic: Svaltrosi
Irish: Albatras Dú-Mhalach
Italian: Albatros sopracciglineri
Latvian: melnacu albatross
Lithuanian: siauraakis albatrosas
Norwegian: Svartbrynalbatross
Polish: albatros czarnobrewy
Portuguese: albatroz-de-sobrancelha
Slovak: albatros ciernobrvý
Slovenian: falklandski albatros
Spanish: Albatros ojeroso
Swedish: svartbrynad albatross

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