NEW ZEALAND BIRDING NETWORK

NEW ZEALAND's BIRDS

Snowy (Wandering) Albatross

Diomedea exulans
It should be noted that the Snowy Albatross is the largest by far of all the Wandering Albatrosses being second in size only to the Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora which is only slightly larger. Gibson's Albatross (named after Dough Gibson, founder of the NSWASG) is about 40% smaller than the Snowy. (Lindsay Smith, SOSSA)

Peter Milburn photographed this bird 2004 at Wollongong. The bird was banded and its
identification confirmed with biometrics as part of SOSSA's programme.


Breeding areas
Subantarctic islands of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Also Macquarrie Island.
Breeding season
Mid-December-February onwards.
Dispersal migration
Subantarctic range. Fairly common in NZ seas with a northward shift in Winter. Breeds/disperses in alternate years.


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