Waved Albatros

Waved albatrosses are a type of albatross that belong to family Diomedeidae of the order Procellariiformes, along with shearwaters, fulm

ars, storm petrels, and diving petrels. They share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the uppe

r bill called naricorns, although the nostrils of the albatross are on the sides of the bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also un

ique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates.Finally, they produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and trigly

cerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This is used against predators and as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the a

dults during their long flights.They also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies,

due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.

These are medium-sized albatrosses, measuring 80 to 90 cm 31 to 35 in in length with a wingspan of 220–250 cm 7.2–8.2 ft.They range

between 2.7 and 4.0 kg 6.0 and 8.8 lb in mass, with males averaging significantly heavier than females.They are distinctive for their

yellowish-cream neck and head, which contrasts with their mostly brownish bodies. Even more distinctive is the very long, bright yellow

bill, which looks disproportionately large in comparison to the relatively small head and long, slender neck. They also have chestnut b

rown upper parts and underparts, except for the breast, with fine barring, a little coarser on the rump. They have brown upper-wings, b

ack, and tail, along with a whitish breast and underwings. Their axillaries are brown. Finally they have bluish feet. Juveniles are simil

ar to adults except for more white on their head.Chicks have brown fluffy feathers. The lifespan of this species may reach 40 to 45 years.

The primary food sources of the waved albatross are fish, squid, and crustaceans, as well as smaller birds. But they have also been o

bserved to scavenge for other food sources, including the regurgitated food of other birds.When foraging, the waved albatross finds plac

es in the ocean where prey will be near this surface this is the most effective way for the albatross to get its food. The waved albatro

sses will forage 10 to 100 km 6.2–62.1 mi away from the place where the chicks are nesting to get food for them.The nests are built on a

reas of lava with boulders and sparse vegetation, or thick brush.The courtship of the waved albatross is a very elusive and spectacu

lar sight. It includes rapid bill circling and bowing, beak clacking, and an upraised bill to make a whoo hoo sound. The eggs are laid be

tween April and June and incubated for two months. When the eggs hatch, the chicks stay together in small nurseries while the parents go

out to the sea for hunting. When the parents return, they may feed the chicks up to 2 kg (4.4 lb) of oil. The young reach adult size by D

ecember and leave the colony by January. The partners remain mates until one of the partners dies.