The light-mantled albatross also known as the grey-mantled albatross or the light-mantled sooty albatross, is a small albatross in the genus Phoebetria, which it shares with the sooty albatross. The light-mantled albatross was first described as Phoebetria palpebrata by Johann Reinhold Forster, in 1785, based on a specimen from south of the Cape of Good Hope.
Region
Southern Ocean
Typical Environment
Circumpolar in the Southern Ocean, breeding on subantarctic islands such as South Georgia, Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard, Macquarie, and the Auckland and Campbell Islands. At sea it is highly pelagic, ranging widely over cold, wind-swept waters far from land. It nests on steep coastal slopes and cliffs with tussock grass or moss, often on ledges overlooking the sea. Foraging concentrates along productive frontal zones, shelf edges, and areas of upwelling. Outside the breeding season it disperses broadly, following the roaring forties and furious fifties.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 600 m
Climate Zone
Polar
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The light-mantled albatross is famed for its elegant, scything flight and synchronized aerial courtship duets with haunting, fluty calls. Like other tubenoses, it can drink seawater and uses dynamic soaring to travel vast distances across the Southern Ocean. It nests on remote subantarctic island cliffs and slopes, usually in widely spaced colonies. Main threats include longline and trawl bycatch, invasive predators at breeding sites, and changing ocean conditions.
Light-mantled albatross sitting on nest
Light-mantled albatross, head detail
Light-mantled Sooty Albatross
Temperament
solitary and territorial around nest
Flight Pattern
soaring glider using dynamic soaring with long arcing flight
Social Behavior
Forms long-term monogamous pairs that perform spectacular synchronized aerial displays and duets. Nests in loose colonies with widely spaced territories on cliffy slopes, building a low cone of vegetation and mud. Lays a single egg; both parents share long incubation and chick-rearing duties, feeding the chick by regurgitation.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Displays include haunting, fluty whistles and trumpet-like notes exchanged in duet, often during aerial chases. At the nest it gives softer croaks and grunts accompanied by bill clapping.
