White-billed Diver vs Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross

In short

The White-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii) and the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos) are easily distinguished by their habitats and physical structures. The White-billed Diver is a large loon with a distinctive white bill, while the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross is a seabird with a long wingspan and a yellow stripe on its bill.

Identification tips

• Bill Color: White-billed Diver has a white bill; Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross has a yellow stripe on its bill.
• Habitat: White-billed Diver is found on freshwater lakes; Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross is oceanic.
• Size and Shape: Albatrosses have longer wingspans and are generally larger than loons.
• Behavior: White-billed Diver is territorial on lakes; Albatross is often seen gliding over the ocean.

Size

The White-billed Diver is a large loon, but the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross is even larger, with a notably longer wingspan typical of albatrosses.

Plumage

The White-billed Diver has a primarily dark plumage with a white bill, while the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross features a grey and white body with a yellow stripe on its bill.

Behaviour

The White-billed Diver is territorial and often found on freshwater lakes and rivers, while the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross is pelagic, spending most of its life at sea.

Habitat

The White-billed Diver breeds in Arctic tundra regions on freshwater lakes, whereas the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross is found over open oceans and nests on remote islands.