Birds
Grey-headed Albatross
Thalassarche chrysostoma · also called grey-headed mollymawk
Tracked circling the entire Southern Ocean around Antarctica in as little as 46 days, a grey-headed albatross ranks among the fastest circumnavigating birds ever recorded, its dark grey head and yellow-ridged bill setting it apart from its paler albatross relatives.
Overview
The grey-headed albatross, Thalassarche chrysostoma, is a fast-flying seabird native to ocean and polar habitat across the Southern Ocean and numerous sub-Antarctic islands. Its record-setting circumnavigation speed, distinctive grey-headed appearance, and Endangered conservation status make it one of the more urgently conservation-relevant albatross species found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
A bird built for speed across an entire ocean
Few birds anywhere can match the sheer pace at which the grey-headed albatross circles the Southern Ocean, a feat made possible by the same relentless winds that also expose the species to the longline fishing gear now threatening its survival.
Status
Endangered, with populations declining significantly across much of its range, driven primarily by mortality from longline fishing.
Grey-headed Albatross: common questions
How fast can a grey-headed albatross circle the Southern Ocean?
This species has been tracked circling the entire Southern Ocean around Antarctica in as little as 46 days, one of the fastest documented circumnavigations recorded in any bird species.
How can you identify a grey-headed albatross?
This species has a distinctive dark grey head and a black bill marked with a yellow ridge along the top and bottom, setting it apart from paler-headed albatross relatives found in the same region.
Why does the grey-headed albatross only breed every second year?
This species typically breeds only every second year, since raising a single chick to independence takes considerably longer than a full year, leaving parents needing extra time to recover before breeding again.
Why is the grey-headed albatross considered Endangered?
This species faces significant mortality from longline fishing operations, where birds are accidentally hooked while attempting to take bait from fishing lines, contributing to significant population declines across much of its range.