Laysan Albatross- The Other Pacific Northwest Albatross Species

In my second post about pelagic species of the Pacific Northwest waters I’ll discuss the other albatross we see, Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutablis. This is the uncommon albatross of our area, with Black-footed Albatross being the commonly seen species. To put likelihood in perspective Black-footed Albatross is seen on essentially every trip on Westport Seabirds, usually in good numbers, but Laysan Albatross is a “good” species to see on any trip, and seeing more than one individual on a trip is great.

Laysan Albatross flying in front of a Black-footed Albatross

Laysan Albatross is a sister species to Black-footed Albatross, felt to be the closest related species in the family. Both breed primarily in the Hawaiian archipelago, mostly on atolls before human interference, and more recently on the main Hawaiian Islands. Visitors to the lighthouse at Kileaua Point in Kauai may see these birds nesting on the grassy areas there.
They spend their winters in the North Pacific, and are recognized as a vulnerable species by the IUCN with an estimated less than 600,000 breeding pairs. They are known for their elaborate mating dances, as well as like other albatross species for dynamic soaring. They are long lived, with birds possibly older than 55 years havng documented breeding. They do not breed until about 8-9 years of age.

One Laysan and several Black-footed Albatross

Laysan Albatross is a relatively small albatross, though a huge bird, with a wingspan of 195-203 cm ( ) and a length of 79-82 cm ( ) weighing approximately 2.4 kg. They are crisply marked in plumage, with white heads and underparts, and black wings, back, and tip of the tail. They have pink legs and feet, a flesh colored bill with a gray tip. The underwings have a black leading edge, and they have a dark patch in front of the eye and eyebrow stripe.

The smaller bird in the background is a Sooty Shearwater

In the north Pacific range the only species of any likelihood to rule out in identification is the Short-tailed Albatross which is much larger with a heavier bubble-gum pink bill and a yellowish wash over the head and neck. In my experience this species looks like a giant clumsy Western Gull.
Like all “tubenoses” the top of the bill has bilateral tubular structures that allow it to excrete salt and therefore survive at sea drinking seawater and eating high-salt prey. They feed from the surface, by capturing floating or swimming squid, flying fish eggs, and fish, but are not felt to dive to feed.
Unlike the Black-footed Albatross they are more solitary, often seen alone, or with small groups of other albatrosses, but not congregating in large bird flocks.

Note the dark leading edge of the Laysan Albatross underwing.

During breeding season they can forage vast distances from the nest, up to 2700 km during trips while eggs are incubating, and up to 900 km during trips of only 2-3 days when young are being tended.

Laysan’s Albatrosses breed during the Northern winter, from Nov. – July, with males arriving about a week before the females. In established pairs copulation may occur shortly after the female arrives. They then leave for a while likely on feeding forays, and the female returns first sometimes laying the single egg before the male returns. IN about 1% of the nests at Midway two females may cooperatively nest, laying 2 eggs. Often one or both are fertilized, apparently by a non-participating male. Eggs are laid during the second half of Nov and the first half of December.

eBird sighting map for Laysan Albatross- the darker the purple color the more frequently the species is reported.

Both male and female develop a brood patch (loss of feathers on the abdomen) and incubate the egg. The female takes the first shift of about 2 days, then the male takes over for about 3 weeks, and subsequent shifts are shorter. When the second bird of a pair returns to the nest there is a brief period of preening and resting, but usually within an hour the relieved bird leaves to start to forage for food.
Once the chick hatches the feeding forays are shorter, allowing the returning parent to regurgitate food into the throat of the chick, then for the first few weeks staying to protect the nest while the other partner goes away to feed. Incubating birds may lose >20% of their body weight during incubation. Eggs usually hatch about 64 days of incubation, and then remain at the nest site for a mean of 165 days. They are fed by their parents with the time between feedings increasing as they get older. Hunger may be their incentive to leave the nesting site and go to sea.
At the time they leave nestlings weigh about 2 kg, less than the adults at that time of year but otherwise look almost identical to adults. They often do not return to the breeding grounds for about 3 years.

In summary Laysan Albatross is a smallish albatross, with white head and underparts and a black back and upper wings, that is the second most common North Pacific Albatross.

Good birding. Steem on!