Head to head
Waved Albatross vs Black-footed Albatross
Waved Albatross
VS Black-footed Albatross
Both albatrosses occupy very different Pacific ranges, one uniquely tropical and the other a dark-plumaged North Pacific specialist.
| Waved Albatross | Black-footed Albatross | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Phoebastria irrorata | Phoebastria nigripes |
| Range | The only tropical albatross, breeding in the Galapagos | The North Pacific Ocean |
| Plumage | Not distinctively dark | Almost entirely dark brown-black |
| Feeding time | Not documented as strictly nocturnal | Feeds heavily at night |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered | Near Threatened |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Takeoff method | A running cliff-edge launch | A standard albatross launch |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean, coastal |
Waved Albatross vs Black-footed Albatross: common questions
Which one is the only albatross found in the tropics?
The waved albatross holds this distinction, breeding almost entirely on Espanola Island in the Galapagos, unlike the black-footed albatross, which breeds across the North Pacific instead.
Which one is the darkest North Pacific albatross?
The black-footed albatross is the darkest, with almost entirely dark brown-black plumage, a feature not shared by the waved albatross, which breeds in the tropics rather than the North Pacific.
Which one is more at risk of extinction?
The waved albatross is at greater risk, classified as Critically Endangered with a population concentrated almost entirely on one island, compared with the black-footed albatross's Near Threatened status.