Photo: frank wouters from antwerpen, belgium , België , Belgique / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sooty Albatross
Phoebetria fusca
Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca) is a member of the Diomedeidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 2.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Diomedeidae Albatrosses
- Genus Phoebetria
- Species fusca
Where it lives
Temperate and subantarctic is. Tristan da Cunha group including Gough (south-central Atlantic Ocean), Amsterdam and St. Paul is. (south-central Indian Ocean), Prince Edward, Crozet and Kerguelen is. (southwest to southeastern Indian Ocean)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.6 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Diomedeidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sooty Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Sooty Albatross is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca) is a member of the Diomedeidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO, AO temperate and subantarctic is. Tristan da Cunha group including Gough (sc Atlantic Ocean), Amsterdam and St. Paul is. (sc Indian Ocean), Prince Edward, Crozet and Kerguelen is. (sw to se Indian Ocean).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.6 kg, with a wing length of about 51 cm and a tail of around 26.9 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 61.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sooty Albatross?
The Sooty Albatross is a very large bird that weighs around 2.6 kg.
Where does the Sooty Albatross live?
The Sooty Albatross is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO, AO temperate and subantarctic is. Tristan da Cunha group including Gough (sc Atlantic Ocean), Amsterdam and St. Paul is. (sc Indian Ocean), Prince Edward, Crozet and Kerguelen is. (sw to se Indian Ocean), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Sooty Albatross belong to?
The Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca) belongs to the Diomedeidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Sooty Albatross eat?
The Sooty Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Sooty Albatross migrate?
The Sooty Albatross is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Sooty Albatross endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
How large is the Sooty Albatross's range?
The Sooty Albatross has a mapped global range of about 61.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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