Head to head
Short-tailed Albatross vs Amsterdam Albatross
Short-tailed Albatross
VS Amsterdam Albatross
Both species represent some of the most fragile albatross recoveries on record, though their paths to the brink were very different.
| Short-tailed Albatross | Amsterdam Albatross | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Phoebastria albatrus | Diomedea amsterdamensis |
| Cause of near-extinction | Intensive feather hunting | Naturally rare, never hunted to the same degree |
| Recovery story | Rediscovered after being thought extinct | Recovered from a low of a dozen breeding pairs |
| Total population | A larger, recovering population | Only around 170 birds |
| Unique risk | Volcanic activity at its main breeding site | Poultry-borne disease |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Critically Endangered |
| Population trend | Increasing | Increasing |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean |
Short-tailed Albatross vs Amsterdam Albatross: common questions
Which one was once believed completely extinct?
The short-tailed albatross was believed extinct, hunted intensively for its feathers before survivors were rediscovered decades later, unlike the Amsterdam albatross, which was always known to exist in small numbers.
Which one has the smaller total population?
The Amsterdam albatross has the far smaller population, at only around 170 birds, compared with the short-tailed albatross's larger, recovering numbers.
Which one faces a risk specifically from volcanic activity?
The short-tailed albatross faces this risk, with much of its breeding population concentrated on an active volcanic island, a threat not shared by the Amsterdam albatross.