Birds
Black-footed Albatross
Phoebastria nigripes · also called black-footed gooney
Foraging mainly after dark for flying fish eggs and squid rising toward the surface, a black-footed albatross stands out as the darkest of the North Pacific albatross species, breeding on remote Pacific atolls alongside its paler relatives.
Overview
The black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes, is a Near Threatened seabird native to ocean and coastal habitat across the North Pacific Ocean, breeding mainly on remote Pacific islands. Its distinctively dark plumage, nocturnal feeding on flying fish eggs, and vulnerability to longline fishing and plastic pollution make it one of the more ecologically significant North Pacific albatross species found anywhere in the region.
Feeding under cover of darkness
While many seabirds rely on daylight to spot prey at the surface, the black-footed albatross has instead built its feeding strategy around the night, timing its foraging to the nocturnal rise of flying fish eggs and squid toward the surface of the open Pacific.
Status
Near Threatened, with populations declining in parts of their range due to longline fishing bycatch, plastic ingestion, and rising sea levels affecting breeding islands.
Black-footed Albatross: common questions
Why is it called the black-footed albatross?
This species has almost entirely dark brown-black plumage overall, making it the darkest of the North Pacific albatross species found in the same general region, a colouring that also extends to its feet.
What does the black-footed albatross eat?
This species feeds heavily on the floating eggs of flying fish, along with squid and fish eggs that rise toward the surface after dark, foraging mainly at night across the open North Pacific.
Why is the black-footed albatross considered Near Threatened?
This species faces significant mortality from longline fishing bycatch and plastic ingestion, alongside the additional long-term risk of rising sea levels affecting its low-lying Pacific breeding islands.
Where does the black-footed albatross breed?
This species breeds mainly on remote Pacific atolls and islands, often nesting alongside other albatross species such as the Laysan albatross in mixed breeding colonies.