Changes

'''Albatrosses''' are large [[seabird]]s, normally found far out in the ocean. they use their very long wings to glide just above the waves, occasionally catching [[fish]] and [[squid]]. Albatrosses make their nests in large colonies on remote islands. they mate for life.

'''Albatrosses''' are large [[seabird]]s, normally found far out in the ocean. They use their very long wings to glide just above the waves, occasionally catching [[fish]] and [[squid]]. Albatrosses make their nests in large colonies on remote islands.

==Types of albatross==

==Species==

 

Scientists disagree about how many species of albatross exist; between thirteen and twenty-four have been proposed.  

Scientists disagree about how many species of albatross exist; between thirteen and twenty-four have been proposed. however, some species have become well known, including the [[wandering albatross]], sometimes said to have the longest wingspan of any bird - up to twelve feet.

 

:[[Amsterdam albatross]], ''Diomedea amsterdamensis''

Six species of albatross are known in American waters:

:[[Antipodean albatross]], ''Diomedea antipodensis''

* [[Short-tailed albatross]] - breeds off [[Japan]]; now down to about 1,000 individuals. it can be seen off the [[Pacific]] coast

:[[Northern royal albatross]], ''Diomedea sanfordi''

* [[Shy albatross]] - can be seen from [[Washington]] to [[California]].

:[[Southern royal albatross]], ''Diomedea epomophora''

* [[Laysan Albatross|Laysan albatross]] - breeds in [[Hawaii]], but also seen off the western mainland.

:[[Tristan albatross]], ''Diomedea dabbenena''

* [[Black-footed albatross]] - also breeds in Hawaii, but can be seen every year off the western mainland.

:[[Wandering albatross]], ''Diomedea exulans''

* [[Yellow-nosed albatross]] - a rare visitor to the [[Atlantic]] and [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]] coast, probably from nesting sites in [[Tristan da Cunha]] island.

* [[Black-browed albatross]] - a very rare visitor to American waters, but has been seen in [[Europe]]an waters several times.

:[[Black-footed albatross]], ''Phoebastria nigripes''

 

:[[Laysan albatross]], ''Phoebastria immutabilis''

[[Image:Waved_albatross.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Waved albatross]]The [[waved albatross|waved]] or [[Gal%C3%A1pagos_Islands|Galápagos]] albatross is the only member of the family native to the tropics.  It breeds exclusively on Espanola Island.

:[[Short-tailed albatross]], ''Phoebastria albatrus''

:[[Waved albatross]], ''Phoebastria irrorata''

*Genus ''Phoebetria'';  Sooty albatrosses

:[[Light-mantled albatross]], ''Phoebetria palpebrata''

:[[Sooty albatross]], ''Phoebetria fusca''

*Genus ''Thalassarche'';  Mollymawks

:[[Atlantic Yellow-nosed albatross]], ''Thalassarche chlororhynchos''

:[[Black-browed albatross]], ''Thalassarche melanophrys''

:[[Buller's albatross]], ''Thalassarche bulleri''

:[[Campbell albatross]], ''Thalassarche impavida''

:[[Chatham albatross]], ''Thalassarche eremita''

:[[Grey-headed albatross]], ''Thalassarche chrysostoma''

:[[Indian Yellow-nosed albatross]], ''Thalassarche carteri''

:[[Salvin's albatross]], ''Thalassarche salvini''

:[[Shy albatross]], ''Thalassarche cauta''

:[[White-capped albatross]], ''Thalassarche steadi''

==Albatrosses in legend==

==Albatrosses in legend==