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Laysan Albatross Diomedea immutabilis *Breeds on Oahu White head, neck, and underbody, Black tail. Black mantle and upper wings. Underwings have black margins and irregular streaks on converts .Dark eye patch. Bill varies from gray to yellow with darker tip; pink legs/feet. Length: 31.6-32.4 in; wingspan: 6.4-6.7 ft ; average life span: 12-40 yrs. Primarily nocturnal feeders. Laysans are surface feeders. They feed on anything that floats on the surface of the water including squid, fish, and crustaceans . All albatross species must land on the water to feed, dipping their heads and bills into surface waters. Laysans feed mostly on squid that possess light organs and that migrate up to the surface from deep water during darkness. Laysans usually stay at least 15 to 20 miles offshore during the non-breeding months (July - October). During the breeding season (November -June) they probably remain within a few hundred kilometers of the islands .In the main Hawaiian Islands nesting colonies are located at Kilauea Point NWR and Barking Sands on Kauai and at Kaena Point on Oahu. Nesting attempts have been made on Molokai,Niihau and Moku Manu. Seventy-one percent of the world's population nests on Midway. In 1996, about 387,854 breeding pairs of Laysan Albatross nested on all three islands of Midway Atoll. Black-footed Albatross Dusky brown body and mantle with white border around base of bill and under tail; bill and legs are grayish black . Immature birds lack the white markings. Length: 25.6-29.6 in; wingspan: 6-7 ft); average life span: 12-40 yrs. This species follows ships at sea.A bird of open ocean and offshore waters. Diurnal surface feeders. Unlike the Laysan Albatross, the black-foots have limited nocturnal vision. Diet consists primarily of flying fish eggs. They also feed on squid and crustaceans. to locate during the day. The competition for food between Black-footed and Laysan Albatross is reduced due to this difference in prey items and feeding behavior. 200,000 breeding adults arrive at Midway in November . The adults leave Midway in Spring and the chicks leave by late June. Trip Reports By Date Sightings Charts Checklist | Pick-up locations | Links Guestbook | Birding on Oahu Our Land Eco-Tours | Bird Books Oahu Nature Tours Phone:(808) 924-2473 Fax: (808) 924-5395  All content and photos on this website are copyrighted and not to be used or distributed without written permission from Oahu Nature Tours, Inc. and Robin W.Baird |
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