Family: Diomedeidae, Albatrosses view all from this family

Description 28-36" (71-91 cm). W. 6'6"-7" (1.9-2.1 m). A large, very long-winged seabird. Mainly blackish brown, with white on face and a dark bill. Amount of white increases as birds age. Conspicuous white primary shafts show in flight. Some adults have white undertail coverts. Glides like a shearwater, with stiff wingbeats.

Habitat Open ocean, rarely seen from shore.

Nesting 1 dull-white egg, spotted with reddish brown, in a shallow depression on the ground. Nests on islands in loose colonies.

Range Breeds on islands in mid-Pacific Ocean. Nonbreeding visitor along entire Pacific Coast of North America.

Voice Shrieks and squeals during fights over food; on nesting grounds, makes a variety of bill-clapping sounds, quacks, and whistles.

Discussion The only albatross that regularly visits the West Coast, the Black-footed is most common during the summer, when it can be found following shrimp or fishing boats to feed on refuse. Its primary diet consists of fish and squid, which it catches mainly at night. Once they leave their nesting islands young albatross do not return for six or seven years. Aside from humans they have few enemies and may live for many years. Marked birds recaptured on Midway have reached 25 years of age or more.