Short-tailed Albatross

The Short-tailed Albatross or Steller's Albatross, Phoebastria albatrus, is a large rare seabird from the North Pacific. Although related to the other North Pacific albatrosses, it also exhibits behavioural and morphological links to the albatrosses of the Southern Ocean. It was described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas from skins collected by the intrepid Georg Wilhelm Steller . Once common, it was brought to the edge of extinction by the trade in feathers, but with protection has recently made a recovery.

The Short-tailed Albatross is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Short-tailed Albatrosses are a type of Albatross that belong to Diomedeidae family and come from the Procellariiformes order, along with Shearwaters, Fulmars, Storm-petrels, and Diving-petrels. They share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. Although the nostrils on the Albatross are on the sides of the bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. More

The Short-tailed Albatross is a medium sized albatross, with a wingspan of 215–230 cm (85–91 in), a length of 84–94 cm (33–37 in) and a body weight that can be 4.3–8.5 kg (9.5–19 lb). Its plumage as an adult is overall white with black flight feathers, some coverts, as well as a black terminal bar on its tail. It has a yellow-stained nape and crown. Its bill is large and pink; however, older birds will gain a blue tip. More

The short-tailed albatross was once a common bird in the Pacific Ocean, with nesting colonies throughout the area. The population was reduced big-time during the early 1900s by feather hunters, who killed adults on the nesting areas to harvest their beautiful feathers for many purposes, including to decorate ladies' hats. The species was thought to be extinct until a small population was found on the volcanic island Torishima, owned by Japan. More

The first Short-tailed Albatross was observed at Midway between 1936 and 1941. Since then, between one to three individuals has been observed every year. In recent years, two sub-adult Short-tailed Albatross have been observed on Sand and Eastern Islands (band #015 and #051). Bird #015 was banded as a chick in 1982 and #051 was banded in 1986 or 1989 (both in Japan). Disputable reports have indicated possible successful nesting activity in 1961 and 1962 on Midway (Fisher 1983). More

weighing up to 25 pounds, the Short-tailed Albatross is the largest albatross in the north Pacific. Its beak is very large and pink, and its feet are yellow. Juveniles are solid brown for their first several years. The sub-adult has a white back and rump, black tail and wingtips, and yellow head with a dark band at the nape of the neck. In adult plumage there is no dark band. The bird does not reach full adult plumage until 12 to 20 years of age. More

The Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus* once bred in huge numbers on at least eleven uninhabited remote islands in subtropical waters west of the Izu-Bonin islands chain, south of Japan. These long-lived birds do not reach full maturity until about 12 years old; away from the breeding islands they ranged widely throughout the north Pacific Ocean (Hasegawa 1984). More

Short-tailed albatross potentially occurs in these Oregon counties: Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Tillamook (Map may reflect historical as well as recent sightings) - The short-tailed albatross was listed as endangered throughout its range in July 2000. Critical habitat is not prudent for this species. A recovery plan, drafted in 2005, is not finalized. More

Pacific, the Short-tailed Albatross measures 36 inches in length, and weighs 4,000 grams, with a wingspan of over seven feet. Sexes are similar. Juveniles are all-brown for several years. Immature Short-tails can be distinguished from Black-footed Albatross by their pink bills and pale feet. In full adult plumage, acquired after 12 or more years, this albatross is distinguished by its golden head and nape, and large, blue-tipped bubblegum-pink bill. More

Short-tailed Albatrosses now nest on only two islands, with the majority of birds nesting on Torishima, and the remainder nesting on Minami-kojima in the Senkaku Islands. During non-breeding season they range across the North Pacific, with the males and juveniles gathering in the Bering Sea, and the females feeding off the coast of Japan and eastern Russia. They can also be found as far east as California. More

The short-tailed albatross is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1) and is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS or Bonn Convention) (4). It is also listed as Endangered by both the United States and Japan (3). Description - Named for its short, white tail with a black bar at the end, this seabird begins life with blackish brown feathers and pale pinkish-yellow legs. More

Short-tailed AlbatrossThe short-tailed albatross is a large seabird with a 7 foot wingspan. It has light yellow-brown feathers on its head and the back of its neck and a white chest and belly. It has black and white wings, yellow feet and a large pink bill with a blue tip. Range The short-tailed albatross was once found in large numbers in the North Pacific Ocean around the seas of Taiwan and Japan. More

The short-tailed albatross is a large seabird whose wingspan approaches 2m. Until the late 19th century, Short-tailed albatrosses formed large colonies on Tori-shima, and the Ogasawara and Senkaku islands. However, because of the demand for their feathers, the short-tailed albatrosses were recklessly hunted and were believed to be extinct until a small number were later rediscovered on Tori-shima and Minami-kojima of the Senkaku Islands. Thanks to conservation efforts, the numbers have gradually increased to about 1,000. More

The Short-tailed Albatross has a small breeding range, confined to Torishima Japan and the Senkaku Islands, claimed by many Asian nations. Native to Asia and North America, this bird prefers neritic, oceanic, or coastal marine ecosystems. The global population of this bird is estimated at 2,364 individuals and while the population is increasing, the bird's vulnerability to human impact necessitates inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of the Short-tailed Albatross is Vulnerable. More

short-tailed albatross is the largest member of its family that nests in the northern hemisphere. The adult is distinguished from other North Pacific Albatross by its yellow stained head, dirty pink feet and a large pink bill. Similar to other albatross, their diet is seafood found at the surface or top few feet of the ocean. This includes squid, fish and fish waste discharged by fishing boats. More

The Short-tailed Albatross came perilously close to extinction. They were hunted on an almost industrial scale for their feathers in the later half of the 19th century with some estimates claiming upward of 10 million birds hunted. By the 1930s the only population left was on Torishima, between 1927 and until 1933 hunting continued when the Japanese government declared the ban of hunting to save the species, after which the albatrosses stopped breeding on the island. More

The Short-tailed Albatross (Diomedea albatrus) is the World's second rarest Albatross (Amsterdam Albatross is the rarest) and is confined to the North Pacific Ocean with its only present breeding sites on Tori-shima Island (Bird Island) in the Izu Islands, about 500 kilometres south of Tokyo in Japan and Minami-kojima Island. It should be noted that Tori-shima lies south of Tokyo, whereas Torishima Island lies to the NW of Japan and does not support Albatross populations. More

separation of Short-tailed Albatross from the main potential North Pacific look-alike, Black-footed Albatross. Juvenile Short-tailed Albatross are a uniform dark brown with a massive bubble-gum pink bill. Black-footed Albatross (all ages) is a similar dark brown (in good light appears blackish-slate) but has a smaller black bill. More

Short-tailed Albatrosses they were slaughtering so indiscriminately represented the entire world population of the species. Collectors moved from one island to the next, killing birds until there were none left. The Short-tailed Albatross was assumed to be extinct for many years thereafter. Fortunately, juvenile Short-tails remain at sea for up to ten years before nesting. More