YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS Diomedea chlororhynchos

YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS Diomedea chlororhynchos

L 71–81 cm, WS 178–205 cm.

IDENTIFICATION 

Vagrant from Southern Oceans. Smallest and most slender of the albatrosses recorded from our region (although differences are slight among mollymawks). Often follows ships. Adult distinguished by narrow black border to underwing (lacking ‘thumb mark’ of Shy), black bill with orangeyellow culmen and pinkish-orange tip (often appears all black at a distance), and (in nominate race) pale grey head and hindneck (becoming whitish in heavily worn individuals). Juvenile distinguished by narrow black border to underwing (lacking ‘thumb mark’ of Shy) and all-black bill. Head and hindneck white. Some have broader black band on leading edge of wing, but never as much as adult Black-browed. 

VOICE 

Usually silent at sea.

STATUS/HABITAT 

Vagrant (W Europe; nominate race). Away from breeding colonies pelagic, only locally coming close to shore.