Massive, mostly white albatross with a large, pink bill; dwarfs other North Pacific albatrosses. Adult: White overall. Ranges from blackish-brown wings with white upperwing coverts to almost entirely white wings. Juvenile and sub-adult starts out mostly brown with white face, but rapidly acquires white throat, belly, mantle and underwings. Gradually turns whiter; takes up to 15 years to attain full adult plumage. Immatures are similar to the smaller Short-tailed Albatross but have bright white underwing coverts. Four distinctive forms, which are treated as separate species by some sources.

Length: 107 (cm) Wingspan: 254 (cm)

Habitat:

Pelagic. Nests in colonies on grassy subantarctic islands.

Behavior:

Glides with few flaps over the ocean or behind ships.

Feeding:

Catches and scavenges squid and fish.