Northern Royal Albatross vs Black-browed Albatross

In short

The Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) and the Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) can be distinguished primarily by their size and bill color. The Northern Royal is larger with a more robust build, while the Black-browed has a distinctive dark eyebrow stripe that is absent in the Northern Royal.

Identification tips

1. Size: Look for the larger size of the Northern Royal Albatross. 2. Bill Color: Northern Royal has a pale pink bill, while the Black-browed has a yellowish bill with a dark tip. 3. Eyebrow Stripe: The Black-browed Albatross has a distinctive dark eyebrow stripe. 4. Wing Pattern: Northern Royal has black upper wings, while Black-browed shows more contrast with its black and white wing pattern.

Size

The Northern Royal Albatross is significantly larger, with a wingspan reaching up to 3.5 meters, compared to the Black-browed Albatross, which has a wingspan of about 2.4 meters.

Plumage

The Northern Royal Albatross is mostly white with black upper wings, whereas the Black-browed Albatross has a striking black eyebrow stripe and a more contrasting black and white pattern on the wings.

Behaviour

Both species are pelagic and spend much of their time at sea, but the Northern Royal Albatross is more often seen soaring with less flapping due to its larger wingspan.

Habitat

Both species are found in the Southern Ocean, but the Northern Royal Albatross breeds on islands around New Zealand, while the Black-browed Albatross breeds on sub-Antarctic islands.

Voice

Vocalizations are not a reliable field mark for distinguishing these species, as both have similar calls typical of albatrosses, consisting of wailing and croaking sounds.