Waved Albatross
CR

Waved Albatross

Phoebastria irrorata

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waved_albatross

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Waved Albatross faces severe threats from fisheries bycatch, particularly in longline and gillnet operations throughout its foraging range along the coasts of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Climate change and El Niño events disrupt marine food webs, reducing prey availability and forcing birds to travel greater distances to find food. Introduced species on Española Island, including goats and cats, have historically degraded nesting habitat and preyed on eggs and chicks, though control efforts have reduced these impacts.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Waved Albatross breeds exclusively on Española Island in the Galápagos, nesting on rocky coastal areas and cliff tops with sparse vegetation. During the non-breeding season, it ranges widely across the eastern Pacific Ocean, foraging in productive upwelling waters along the coasts of Peru, Ecuador, and northern Chile.

Shrubland· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in DIOMEDEIDAE

VU

Southern Royal Albatross

Diomedea epomophora

Stable
VU

Salvin's Albatross

Thalassarche salvini

Unknown
VU

Short-tailed Albatross

Phoebastria albatrus

Increasing
VU

Chatham Albatross

Thalassarche eremita

Stable

Threatened in Chile

VU

Juan Fernandez Petrel

Pterodroma externa

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VU

Black Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Stable
VU

Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Declining
VU

Pink-footed Shearwater

Ardenna creatopus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Waved Albatross classified as Critically Endangered?
Waved Albatross is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Waved Albatross faces severe threats from fisheries bycatch, particularly in longline and gillnet operations throughout its foraging range along the coasts of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Climate change and El Niño events disrupt marine food webs, reducing prey availability and forcing birds to travel greater distances to find food. Introduced species on Española Island, including goats and cats, have historically degraded nesting habitat and preyed on eggs and chicks, though control efforts have reduced these impacts.
Where does Waved Albatross live?
Waved Albatross occurs in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Waved Albatross?
The main threats to Waved Albatross are 11.1, 5.4, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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