Birds
Short-tailed Albatross
Phoebastria albatrus · also called Steller's albatross
Believed extinct after decades of intensive feather hunting, a short-tailed albatross was rediscovered breeding on a remote volcanic island, its population slowly rebuilding from a handful of survivors into a still-fragile but genuinely recovering population.
Overview
The short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus, is a Vulnerable seabird native to ocean and coastal habitat across the North Pacific Ocean, breeding mainly on a small number of remote islands. Its extraordinary near-extinction and rediscovery, distinctive golden head plumage, and ongoing vulnerability to volcanic activity make it one of the more remarkable conservation recovery stories among albatross species found anywhere in the world.
A species that returned from presumed extinction
Few birds have come as close to genuine extinction and still survived as the short-tailed albatross, whose rediscovery on a remote volcanic island decades after being written off stands as one of seabird conservation’s most striking second chances.
Status
Vulnerable, with populations growing steadily from a severe historical bottleneck, though the species remains at risk given its small overall numbers and concentration on limited breeding sites.
Short-tailed Albatross: common questions
Why was the short-tailed albatross once believed extinct?
This species was hunted so intensively for its feathers during the early twentieth century that it was believed extinct, with hunting pressure reducing the population to what was thought to be nothing before survivors were later found.
How was the short-tailed albatross rediscovered?
This species was rediscovered breeding on a remote volcanic island, having survived hunting there thanks to the island's isolation and the difficulty of accessing its breeding grounds at the time.
How can you identify a short-tailed albatross?
This species has a distinctive golden-yellow wash across the head and neck in adult plumage, a feature that sets it apart from other North Pacific albatross species such as the Laysan and black-footed albatross.
Why does volcanic activity threaten the short-tailed albatross?
This species faces an unusual ongoing risk from volcanic activity, since a significant portion of its breeding population is concentrated on an active volcanic island, leaving much of the species vulnerable to a single eruption event.