Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Seabirds & Tubenoses

Salvin’s Albatross

Thalassarche salvini

Salvin's Albatross (Thalassarche salvini) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of New Zealand Birds of Peru Birds of the United States Birds of South Africa Birds of New South Wales Birds of Queensland

By family

Albatrosses of Australia Albatrosses of New Zealand Albatrosses of the United States Albatrosses of South Africa Albatrosses of New South Wales

See what's near you right now

The Salvin’s Albatross (Thalassarche salvini) is a member of the Diomedeidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 3.9 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Procellariiformes
Family Diomedeidae Albatrosses
Genus Thalassarche
Species salvini

Where it lives

Bounty (most of population; east of Stewart I.), western Snares (south of South I.; New Zealand) and Crozet is. (few; South Indian Ocean)

Oceans & Seabirds

Quick facts

Weight: 3.9 kg
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Diomedeidae
Order: Procellariiformes

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Salvin’s Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

And is well suited to a life on and around water.

Migration

The Salvin’s Albatross is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Salvin’s Albatross (Thalassarche salvini) is a species of bird in the Diomedeidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO, PO Bounty (most of population; e of Stewart I.), w Snares (s of South I.; New Zealand) and Crozet is. (few; South Indian Ocean).

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.9 kg, with a wing length of about 55.8 cm and a tail of around 20.8 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 67 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Salvin’s Albatross — Call

Recorded by Cristian Pinto Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Salvin’s Albatross?

The Salvin’s Albatross is a very large bird that weighs around 3.9 kg.

Where does the Salvin’s Albatross live?

The Salvin’s Albatross is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO, PO Bounty (most of population; e of Stewart I.), w Snares (s of South I.; New Zealand) and Crozet is. (few; South Indian Ocean).

What family does the Salvin’s Albatross belong to?

The Salvin’s Albatross (Thalassarche salvini) belongs to the Diomedeidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.

What does the Salvin’s Albatross eat?

The Salvin’s Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Salvin’s Albatross migrate?

The Salvin’s Albatross is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Salvin’s Albatross endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Salvin’s Albatross make?

1 real field recording of the Salvin’s Albatross — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Salvin’s Albatross's range?

The Salvin’s Albatross has a mapped global range of about 67 million km².