At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The northern royal albatross is one of the largest albatrosses, with a wingspan around three metres. It is assessed as Endangered.
Most breed on remote islands, with a famous accessible colony on mainland New Zealand.
Range & habitat
Breeds on islands off New Zealand and forages across the Southern Ocean.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Longline fishing bycatch
- Storms and disturbance at colonies
- Plastic and pollution
Why it matters
A giant ocean wanderer threatened mainly by fishing, the northern royal albatross is a flagship for seabird-safe fisheries in the Southern Ocean.
Sources
Sources for Northern Royal Albatross
- IUCN Red List — look up Northern Royal Albatross (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can people see northern royal albatrosses?
Most nest on remote islands, but a well-known, accessible breeding colony exists on the mainland at Taiaroa Head near Dunedin, New Zealand.
Why is the northern royal albatross Endangered?
Published assessments cite longline fishing bycatch, storms and disturbance at colonies, and plastic and pollution. See the IUCN Red List.
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