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Sea BirdsLaysan
Albatross
Laysan Albatross
Common Name: Laysan Albatross
Scientific Name: Phoebastria immutabilis
Description
Laysan, Black-footed, and Short-tailed
Albatross have a wingspan of almost two meters, which
is half that of the largest albatrosses. Albatrosses do not
nest in Alaska but they migrate here each year after having
bred in such far away places as the Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands and Torishima Island in Japan. On these remote uninhabited
islands, albatrosses nest in huge, dense colonies. Nearly
all of the 400,000 breeding pairs of Laysan Albatross and
50,000 pairs of Black-footed Albatross nest in the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
White head, neck, and underbody. Black mantle and upperwings.
Underwings have black margins and irregular streaks on converts.
Dark eye patch.
Bill varies from gray to yellow with darker tip; pink legs/feet.
Length: 79-81cm (31.6-32.4 in);
Wingspan: 195-203 cm (6.4-6.7 ft);
Average Life Span: 12-40 yrs.
Life History
Reproduction Comments: Egg are laid
November-December. Clutch size is 1. Incubation lasts
62-68 days, by both sexes in turn (turn may last weeks).
Nestling stage lasts about 165 days. Young are tended
by both sexes, may be left alone for 1-4 days after 6
weeks. First breeds at 5-9 years.
Habitat
Marine Habitat(s): Pelagic
Terrestrial Habitat(s): Grassland/herbaceous
Feeding Habits
Primarily nocturnal feeders. Laysans are
surface feeders. Therefore feed on anything that floats on
the surface of the water; squid, fish, crustaceans and flying
fish eggs.
Laysans usually stay at least 20 to 30 kilometers
offshore during the non-breeding months (July - October).
During these months Laysans are distributed throughout the
northwestern and northeastern range of the Pacific.
Breeding
Monogamous. If one of the mates should die,
they will most likely create a new pair bond. Nests are made
up of surrounding grasses, dirt or shrubbery and are piled
into large mounds that form a nest cup. Laying begins in mid-November.
One egg is laid and incubation lasts about 65 days. Incubation
starts with the female who usually stays for a short two day
span. The male then takes over for as long as three weeks.
During the month of December the number of incubating males
outnumber that of incubating females 15:1. If the egg is infertile
or breaks during incubation, re-laying will not occur that
year.
Chicks hatch during late January to mid-February. Chicks
live off a diet of flying fish eggs and squid oil, a product
that is rich in fat. Both parents will feed the chick by regurgitation
and will often leave them for several days while they obtain
food out at sea. The rich squid and stomach oil is filled
with fatty acids and nutrients that can sustain a chick for
the number of days between feedings. Fledging occurs 5-6 months
after hatching (mid-June through late July). Parents will
often leave before the chicks have reached their full juvenile
plumage.
Sub-adults return to their natal nesting colony after spending
3 - 5 years at sea. Elaborate courtship dances take place
throughout the colony while these young birds search for a
mate. Mating and first nesting usually occurs by age 6-8.
Identification Tips
Length: 28 inches Wingspan: 85 inches
Sexes similar
Large seafaring bird with extremely long wings
White head, body, undertail coverts, and rump
Upperwings and back dark
Black and white patterning on underwings Bill and feet pinkish
Similar Species
Similarly pelagic shearwaters
and petrels are smaller with shorter wings. Black-footed
Albatross has a dark body and head. Other albatross
species are rarer and have different patterning on
the underwings.
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