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Short-tailed albatross
Breeding pairs remaining in the world: around 300
Where do they breed?: Islands off Japan (North Pacific)
Wingspan: 215-230 cm
Length (beak to tail): 89 cm
Average lifespan: Up to 30 years
Diet: Mainly squid. They have been recorded following ships to feed on scraps and fish offal
Scientific name:Phoebastria albatrus
Threat level: Vulnerable
Why they need your help
In the past, this species was killed for its feathers. Hunters had such an impact on numbers that until the mid-20th Century the short-tailed albatross was believed to have gone extinct.
After a major conservation effort, this species has seen a steady increase in numbers. However, the birds only breed at two sites and are vulnerable to natural disasters such as land-slides and volcanic eruptions. Introduced predators are also a threat.
This species also faces the risk of death in longline fisheries, and oil pollution is also a threat while the birds are at sea.
Short-tailed albatrosses mainly forage near coastlines in the North Pacific, but travel as far as Alaska.