Waved Albatross
Phoebastria irrorata
- Family
- Albatrosses (Diomedeidae)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
Best months to see it
- JanJanuary: Poor or no data
- FebFebruary: Poor or no data
- MarMarch: Poor or no data
- AprApril: Best
- MayMay: Best
- JunJune: Best
- JulJuly: Best
- AugAugust: Best
- SepSeptember: Best
- OctOctober: Best
- NovNovember: Best
- DecDecember: Best
BestGoodFair
Overview
The waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), also known as Galapagos albatross, is one of three species of the family Diomedeidae that occur in the tropics. When they forage, they follow a straight path to a single site off the coast of Peru, about 1,000 km (620 mi) to the east. During the non-breeding season, these birds reside primarily on the Ecuadorian and Peruvian coasts.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Squid, fish and crustaceans.
How to identify it
- The only tropical albatross; breeds almost entirely on Española, Galápagos
- Pale yellowish head and finely barred brown body
- Long yellow bill; pairs perform bill-fencing dances
Voice
Bill clacking and moaning during displays.
Where to see it
- Punta Suárez, Española (Apr–Dec)
Destination guides featuring this bird
Range and habitat
Breeds Española (Galapagos) and Isla La Plata off Ecuador; ranges to coastal waters of Ecuador and northern Peru.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Waved albatross
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
