Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Royal Albatross
Diomedea epomophora
Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) — 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 Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) is a member of the Diomedeidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 8.9 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Diomedeidae Albatrosses
- Genus Diomedea
- Species epomophora
Where it lives
Enderby (Auckland) and Campbell is. (south of South I.; New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.9 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Diomedeidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Endangered
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Royal Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
It is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water, and is well suited to a life on and around water.
Migration
The Southern Royal Albatross is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) is a member of the Diomedeidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Enderby (Auckland) and Campbell is. (s of South I.; New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 8.9 kg, with a wing length of about 63.7 cm and a tail of around 22.6 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 56.5 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Royal Albatross?
The Southern Royal Albatross is a very large bird that weighs around 8.9 kg.
Where does the Southern Royal Albatross live?
The Southern Royal Albatross is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Enderby (Auckland) and Campbell is. (s of South I.; New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Southern Royal Albatross belong to?
The Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) belongs to the Diomedeidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Southern Royal Albatross eat?
The Southern Royal Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Southern Royal Albatross migrate?
The Southern Royal Albatross is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Southern Royal 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 Southern Royal Albatross make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Royal Albatross can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Royal Albatross's range?
The Southern Royal Albatross has a mapped global range of about 56.5 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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