Grey-headed Albatross

Thalassarche chrysostoma is a large seabird recognizable by its dark grey head and neck, contrasting white underparts, and a black bill marked with a yellow ridge along the upper and lower mandibles. With a wingspan exceeding two meters, it is a highly efficient dynamic soarer, capable of traveling vast distances over open ocean with minimal energy expenditure. It feeds primarily on squid, fish, and crustaceans, often foraging at night, and occasionally scavenges behind fishing vessels.

As a long-lived, slow-breeding species that typically raises one chick every two years, it plays a role in marine nutrient cycling and serves as an indicator of ocean ecosystem health.

This albatross breeds on remote subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and other sites associated with South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Chile, nesting on steep, vegetated slopes and cliffs. Outside the breeding season, it ranges widely across the Southern Ocean, occupying both marine oceanic and neritic waters.

Population decline is driven largely by incidental mortality in longline and trawl fisheries, where birds are hooked or struck while attempting to feed on bait or discards. Invasive predators introduced to breeding islands, such as rodents and feral cats, prey on eggs and chicks, further reducing reproductive success.

Conservation responses include the implementation of seabird bycatch mitigation measures in regulated fisheries, such as streamer lines and weighted hooks, along with ongoing invasive species eradication and biosecurity programs on some breeding islands. Population monitoring continues at key colonies.

Despite these efforts, the species remains classified as Endangered, with populations continuing to decline across most monitored breeding sites, indicating that current protections have not yet fully offset ongoing losses.