Salvin Albatross
| Salvin Albatross | ||||||||||
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Salvin albatross ( Thalassarche salvini ) |
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| Thalassarche salvini | ||||||||||
| ( Rothschild , 1893) |
The salvin albatross ( Thalassarche salvini ), also known as the gray-backed albatross , is a species of the albatross family. It was long considered a subspecies of the white-capped albatross , but has been classified as an independent species for several years.
The IUCN classifies the Salvin albatross as endangered ( vulnerable ). The population is estimated at 62,000 individuals. The reason for the classification is the relatively small breeding area. Extraordinary events in this region can therefore have a major impact on the overall population.
Appearance
The Salvin albatross reaches a body length of 90 to 100 centimeters. It is one of the medium-sized albatrosses. Both the tail and the wings are slightly longer than those of the white-capped albatross. The wing length is 55 to 60 centimeters. They weigh 3.3 to 4.9 kilograms. Females tend to be slightly lighter than males and have a narrower beak and legs, as well as a shorter tail and shorter wings. However, the dimensions of the two sexes overlap.
The head of the albatross is gray and merges into the darker gray of the coat in the neck. The forehead and part of the crown of the head lightens into whitish. The eyes are dark and surrounded by a triangular black spot. Similar to the White-capped Albatross and the Chatham Albatross , this drawing gives the Salvin Albatross a facial expression that appears serious and strained to the human observer. The underside of the body is white. The wings are also white on the underside with black markings on the wing edges. The wing tip is black.
The beak is olive brown with yellow markings on the lower and upper bills. The tip of the beak is dark, although this varies individually. In many individuals, only the tip of the lower mandible is black.
Fledglings are similar to the adult birds, but usually have a darker bill. The head is darker than that of adult Salvin albatrosses.
Can be confused with all species of Thalassarche albatrosses. It differs from the other species mainly in its darker beak. It is particularly similar to the Buller Albatross .
distribution
The Salvin Albatross breeds on the Crozet Islands , the Bounty Islands and the Snares Islands . It also occasionally breeds on The Pyramid , one of the Chatham Islands . On the Kerguelen , a pair of salvin albatrosses have been building a nest in a breeding colony of black -browed albatrosses for several years .
Outside the breeding season, it can be found in the southwest of the Indian Ocean and off the west coast of South America. It can be seen very often over waters off Chile.
Reproduction
The Salvin Albatross probably breeds annually. The breeding season begins at the beginning of October. The nest is made of mud, guano , feathers and small stones. The clutch consists of a single egg. This has a whitish shell with red-brown spots on the wider end. The egg is incubated for 68 to 75 days. It is not yet known after what time the young birds fledge. Both parent birds breed and care for the young bird.
supporting documents
literature
- Hadoram Shirihai: A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife - The Birds and Marine Mammals of the Antarctic Continent and Southern Ocean , Alula Press, Degerby 2002, ISBN 951-98947-0-5
- James McQuilken: The Mists of Time. Spitzbergen.de-Verlag, 2012.
Single receipts
- ↑ BirdLife Factsheet on the Salvin Albatros , accessed on November 28, 2010
- ^ Shirihai, p. 115
- ^ Shirihai, p. 115
Web links
- Thalassarche salvini in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2010. Accessed March 12, 2012th