Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) Toroa

Size: 115 cm, 9 kg

Description: Huge albatross with white underparts, trailing edge and tips of underwings edged black. Back white with slow mottled transition to mostly black upper wings. Huge pink bill with cream tip. Juvenile Northern similar to adult Southern but differentiated by mottling on back and extent of white on upperwings.

Habitat: Ranges widely throughout the southern oceans only coming ashore to breed.

Status: Protected uncommon endemic. 8000 pairs mainly on Campbell Island.

Breeding: Eggs laid Oct-Dec, chicks fledge in 11 months. Known to interbreed with Northern species.

Where and how to photograph: Best opportunities are from a boat well offshore - try Ocean Wings, Kaikoura.

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