Head to head
Laysan Albatross vs Short-tailed Albatross
Laysan Albatross
VS Short-tailed Albatross
Both are North Pacific albatrosses with remarkable individual stories, but one is famous for longevity and the other for surviving presumed extinction.
| Laysan Albatross | Short-tailed Albatross | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Phoebastria immutabilis | Phoebastria albatrus |
| Notable history | Home to Wisdom, over 70 years old | Once believed extinct from feather hunting |
| Plumage | Mostly white with dark upperwings | A golden-yellow wash on the head and neck |
| Population trend | Increasing | Increasing, recovering from a severe bottleneck |
| Unique risk | Plastic ingestion | Volcanic activity at its main breeding site |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened | Vulnerable |
| Breeding range | Remote Pacific atolls | A small number of remote islands |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean, coastal |
Laysan Albatross vs Short-tailed Albatross: common questions
Which one was once believed extinct?
The short-tailed albatross was once believed extinct, hunted so intensively for its feathers that survivors were not found again until decades later on a remote volcanic island.
Which one has a distinctive golden head?
The short-tailed albatross is the one with this feature, a golden-yellow wash across the head and neck, unlike the Laysan albatross's mostly white plumage.
Which one faces a unique risk from volcanic activity?
The short-tailed albatross faces this risk, since a significant portion of its breeding population is concentrated on an active volcanic island, a threat not shared by the Laysan albatross.