Photo: XLerate / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Royal Albatross
Diomedea sanfordi
Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) is a member of the Diomedeidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 8.9 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 Diomedea
- Species sanfordi
Where it lives
Otago Pen. (southeastern South I.) and Sisters and Forty Fours (Chatham Is., east of South I.; New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.9 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Diomedeidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Royal Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
And is well suited to a life on and around water.
Migration
The Northern Royal Albatross is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) is a member of the Diomedeidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Otago Pen. (se South I.) and Sisters and Forty Fours (Chatham Is., e of South I.; New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 8.9 kg, with a wing length of about 61.1 cm and a tail of around 17.7 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 65.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Royal Albatross?
The Northern Royal Albatross is a very large bird that weighs around 8.9 kg.
Where does the Northern Royal Albatross live?
The Northern Royal Albatross is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Otago Pen. (se South I.) and Sisters and Forty Fours (Chatham Is., e of South I.; New Zealand).
What family does the Northern Royal Albatross belong to?
The Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) belongs to the Diomedeidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Northern Royal Albatross eat?
The Northern Royal Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Northern Royal Albatross migrate?
The Northern Royal Albatross is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Northern Royal 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.
What sound does the Northern Royal Albatross make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Royal Albatross — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Royal Albatross's range?
The Northern Royal Albatross has a mapped global range of about 65.3 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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