Black-footed Albatross vs Short-tailed Albatross

In short

The Black-footed Albatross and Short-tailed Albatross are both large seabirds of the North Pacific, but they can be distinguished by their plumage and bill color. The Black-footed Albatross is mostly dark with a dusky bill, while the Short-tailed Albatross has a striking white body and a pink bill.

Identification tips

1. Bill Color: Look for the pink bill of the Short-tailed Albatross, especially in adults, as opposed to the dark bill of the Black-footed Albatross. 2. Plumage: Note the white body and golden head of adult Short-tailed Albatrosses compared to the uniformly dark Black-footed Albatross. 3. Size and Structure: The Short-tailed Albatross is generally larger and bulkier. 4. Juvenile Confusion: Be cautious with juvenile Short-tailed Albatrosses as they can appear similar to Black-footed, but the pink bill remains a key differentiator.

Size

Both species are large albatrosses, but the Short-tailed Albatross is generally larger and more robust than the Black-footed Albatross.

Plumage

The Black-footed Albatross is predominantly dark brown with a slightly paler face and a dark bill. In contrast, the adult Short-tailed Albatross has a white body with a golden-yellow head and neck, and a distinctive pink bill. Juvenile Short-tailed Albatrosses are darker, resembling the Black-footed, but they still have a pink bill.

Behaviour

Both species are oceanic and can be seen following ships. The Black-footed Albatross is known to be more aggressive, especially during feeding.

Habitat

Both species inhabit the North Pacific Ocean, but the Black-footed Albatross is more commonly seen off the Pacific coast of North America. The Short-tailed Albatross is rarer and breeds on a few islands in Japan.