Black-browed mollymawk
The black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris ), also known as the black-browed mollymawk, is a large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae; it is the most widespread and common member of its family.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
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ScavengerScavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While sc...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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Pelagic birdsPelagic birds live on open seas and oceans rather than inland or around more restricted waters such as rivers and lakes. They feed on planktonic cr...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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NomadicNomadic animals regularly move to and from the same areas within a well-defined range. Most animals travel in groups in search of better territorie...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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Soaring birdsSoaring birds can maintain flight without wing flapping, using rising air currents. Many gliding birds are able to "lock" their extended wings by m...
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SeabirdSeabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, b...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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ColonialColonial animals live in large aggregations composed of two or more conspecific individuals in close association with or connected to, one another....
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withLo
Long-Lived AnimalsThe Black-browed albatross is a member of the albatross family Diomedeidae, the ‘tube-noses’, related to shearwaters, petrels, and fulmars. It is the most common and widespread albatross. The name for this large seabird comes from the dark black plumage above its eyes. Albatrosses are true marine birds, traversing the oceans in the southern hemisphere, returning to land only to breed. They are similar to the gray-headed albatross but the latter has a wholly dark bill and more complete dark markings on the head.
The Black-browed albatross is found anywhere in the south Atlantic and circumpolar in the southern hemisphere. It can travel further to the north with cold currents. During September and October, these birds breed on south Atlantic islands such as South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, South Sandwich, and the Cape Horn islands. These are marine, pelagic birds but they do commonly come inshore, typically moving toward the shore during violent weather. Breeding grounds are typically on steep slopes with cliff terraces, tussock grass, or level ground.
Black-browed albatrosses typically are solitary at sea, except when there is a large feeding opportunity. They forage both day and night, according to the prey species. They gather during the breeding season in nesting colonies that can number over 180,000 pairs. They are very mobile birds and can travel 500 to 3,000 km to forage. They are often seen hundreds of miles offshore following a ship, simply gliding behind it. This species only establishes territory during the breeding season. Breeding pairs will not permit another individual to come within 1.5 m of their nest. They are generally silent birds, but with breeding colonies will make rapid grunting noises. They will also make noises by beak-clapping. Breeding pairs communicate through courtship behaviors like allopreening and beak touching. Black-browed albatrosses, like all birds, perceive their environment through visual, auditory, and tactile, as well as chemical stimuli.
Black-browed albatrosses are carnivores (piscivores) and scavengers; they mainly eat crustaceans and fish but will also consume squid, carrion, and fishery discards.
This species is monogamous, and Black-browed albatrosses often mate for life. A pair will often engage in rituals of feeding each other, using stereotyped postures while facing each other. Mutual preening is also performed, mainly to the head, and rubbing each other’s bills, as well as dances and calls. The breeding season begins in September or October and runs until April. The birds form colonies during the breeding season. They build their nests from mud, grass, seaweed, and guano, on a volcano-shaped mound. The single egg is incubated for 71 days. The chick is brooded during its first weeks and fledges at about 120 days old. Both parents feed and guard the downy young until it becomes independent when it fledges. These birds are reproductively mature around 7-9 years of age but mating activity usually begins at 11 years old.
The greatest threat to these birds seems to be an increase in by-catch due to long-line sea fishing practices in the southern oceans, particularly off the coasts of Argentina and Uruguay along the Patagonian shelf. Further threats include natural disasters (fires, floods, and volcanic activity), disruption of prey populations, ingesting plastic, pollution, habitat destruction, and disease.
According to IUCN’s Red List, the total size of the Black-browed albatross population is 700,000 pairs (i.e. 1,400,000 mature individuals), roughly equating to 2,100,000 individuals. This includes: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) - 475,500-535,000 pairs; Chile - 55,000 pairs on Diego Ramirez; 58,000 pairs on Ildefonso; 15,500 pairs on Diego de Almagro; South Georgia (Georgias del Sur) - 56,000 pairs. There are an estimated 5,800 pairs in other populations (Antipodes, Campbell, Heard and MacDonald, Crozet, Kerguelen, Macquarie, Snares). Overall, currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are increasing.
Being piscivores, these birds may likely affect fish populations in their range.