Black-browed Albatross

Thalassarche melanophris

Introduction

One of the smaller albatrosses, only a handful of individuals have been recorded here, but some have returned each summer (usually to a Gannet colony) for many years.

Perhaps the most famous of these visitors was "Albert" (fully Albert Ross), who first appeared on the Bass Rock in 1967, then subsequently at Hermanness, Shetland almost annually from 1972 to 1995.

In recent years another summering individual has joined Gannets at the Bempton Cliffs seabird colony in Yorkshire, giving many UK birdwatchers a chance to see this impressive species.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

4kg

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

812 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

-100% contraction

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Cambridgeshire, 1897

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.03%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Black-browed Albatross

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

-100 %

Seasonality

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With the exception of vagrant birds returning to seabird colonies, Black-browed Albatross is a very rare species with sporadic records during autumn seawatching season.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Black-browed Albatross movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Black-browed Albatross, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Black-browed Albatross

Classification and Codes

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Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Diomedeidae
Scientific name: Thalassarche melanophris
Authority: Temminck, 1828

BTO 2-letter code: AA
BTO 5-letter code: BLBAL
Euring code number: 140

Alternate species names

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Catalan: albatros cellanegre
Czech: albatros cernobrvý
Danish: Sortbrynet Albatros
Dutch: Wenkbrauwalbatros
Estonian: mustkulm-albatross
Finnish: mustakulma-albatrossi
French: Albatros à sourcils noirs

German: Schwarzbrauenalbatros
Hungarian: dolmányos albatrosz
Icelandic: Svaltrosi
Irish: Albatras Dú-Mhalach
Italian: Albatros sopracciglineri
Latvian: melnacu albatross
Lithuanian: siauraakis albatrosas
Norwegian: Svartbrynalbatross

Polish: albatros czarnobrewy
Portuguese: albatroz-de-sobrancelha
Slovak: albatros ciernobrvý
Slovenian: falklandski albatros
Spanish: Albatros ojeroso
Swedish: svartbrynad albatross
Welsh: Albatros Aelddu

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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