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The
Laysan Albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis, is a large
seabird that ranges across the North Pacific. This small
(for its family) albatross is the second most common seabird
in the Hawaiian Islands, with an estimated population
of 2.5 million birds, and is currently expanding (or possibly
re-expanding) its range to new islands. It is named for
Laysan, one of its breeding colonies in the Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands. The Laysan Albatross is usually easy
to identify, in the North Pacific it is simple to separate
from the other relatively common albatross, the all black
Black-footed Albatross. It can be distinguished from the
very rare Short-tailed Albatross by its all dark back
and smaller size. The Laysan Albatross' plumage has been
compared to that of a gull, two tone with a dark grey
mantle and wings, and white underside and head. |
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The
Laysan Albatross has a wide range across the North Pacific.
Its main breeding colonies are in the Hawaiian Islands,
particularly the islands of Midway and Laysan. It also
nests in the Bonin Islands near Japan, and has recently
began to colonize islands off Mexico, such as Guadalupe
Island. When away from the breeding areas they range widely
from Japan to Alaska and down to california, but usually
far offshore. The Laysan Albatross is colonial, nesting
on scattered small islands and atolls, often in huge numbers.
They also have a protracted breeding cycle. Juvenile birds
return to the colony three years after fledging, but will
not mate for the first time until they are seven or eight
years old. over these four or five years they form pair
bonds with a mate that they will keep for life. Courtship
entails especially elaborate 'dances' that have up to
25 ritualised movements. |
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