Photo: E bailey / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Waved Albatross
Phoebastria irrorata
Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) is a member of the Diomedeidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 3.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Diomedeidae Albatrosses
- Genus Phoebastria
- Species irrorata
Where it lives
Hood (=Espanola, southeastern Galápagos) and I. La Plata (off coastal Ecuador)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.4 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Diomedeidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Endangered
Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Waved Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Waved Albatross is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) is a species of bird in the Diomedeidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Hood (=Espanola, se Galápagos) and I. La Plata (off coastal Ecuador).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.4 kg, with a wing length of about 53.5 cm and a tail of around 13.9 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Waved Albatross?
The Waved Albatross is a very large bird that weighs around 3.4 kg.
Where does the Waved Albatross live?
The Waved Albatross is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Hood (=Espanola, se Galápagos) and I. La Plata (off coastal Ecuador), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Waved Albatross belong to?
The Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) belongs to the Diomedeidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Waved Albatross eat?
The Waved Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Waved Albatross migrate?
The Waved Albatross is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Waved Albatross endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Waved Albatross make?
1 real field recording of the Waved 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 Waved Albatross's range?
The Waved Albatross has a mapped global range of about 1.7 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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