Restricted to the North Pacific, this is the only albatross seen commonly off the North American coastline. Its closest nesting colonies are in Hawaii. At sea it often follows ships, feeding on refuse in their wake.

Conservation status  Far less abundant than Laysan Albatross. Total population estimated at significantly fewer than 100,000 pairs. In the past, thousands were killed annually by drift nets and longline fisheries. These threats have been reduced, but now many die after ingesting large amounts of plastics and other toxins. Sea level rise is likely to drown out nesting sites on low-lying islands.

Family:  Albatrosses

Habitat:  Open ocean. In foraging at sea, most common over upwellings or over continental shelf, but rarely close to shore. Nests on sandy beaches and other open flat areas on islands in Pacific.