Albatrosses
nr.404 & nr. 1996179
Blackbrowed Albatrosses tending each others feathers, New Island Falkland Islands.

Circumpolar in southern oceans. Breeds Staten, Falklands, South Georgia, Kerguelen, Heard, Antipodes and Macquarie Islands.
Length: 80-83 cm  Wingspan: 245 cm  Stands: 63 cm

Blackbrowed Albatross, Diomedea melanophrysBlackbrowed Albatross, Diomedea melanophrys

Head, upper shoulders and under parts are all white. Dark eyebrow and dark grey-black patch around upper area of eye gives a distinctive look.  In breeding birds this eyebrow extends as a light greyish cast around back of head. Bill dull buff-yellow, with salmon-pink tip and upper mandible. Tail light grey. Upper wings grey-black. Under wings have black leading edge, with grey primaries and a grey to blackish-grey trailing edge enclosing an area of white. Feet and legs light-grey. Returns to breeding grounds mid-September and egg laying begins 8-10 October. Incubation of  single egg lasts for 68-72 days and fledgelings are reared for 16-17 weeks until they are leaving the nest in April. Often forms colonies in association with Rockhopper penguins and generally on elevated sites where birds can use updrafts for flying in and out. Generally scavenge, taking variety of food from sea surface, notably Lobster Krill and squid.

nr.475 & nr.474
Lightmantled Sooty Albatross.

Circumpolar.
Breeds on South Georgia and in southern Indian Ocean.
Length:  86 cm      Wingspan:  213 cm
Lightmantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrataLightmantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata

Dark plumage, very slender wings and wedged tail. Bill black with blue groove. Eye surrounded by ring of white feathers. Very dark head contrasts with pale buff back. Annual breeding population is about 23,000 pairs. Diet includes squid, fish and crustaceans, but also small seabirds such as Prions and Diving Petrels.


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