At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The short-tailed albatross is a large North Pacific albatross once hunted nearly to extinction for its feathers. It is assessed as Vulnerable, recovering from a tiny remnant.
Most of the population breeds on a single volcanic island.
Range & habitat
The North Pacific, breeding on a few islands off Japan.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Past feather hunting (now recovering)
- Volcanic risk at key colony
- Longline bycatch and plastic
Why it matters
Rebuilt from near-extinction, the short-tailed albatross is a recovery success still at risk because so much of it nests on one volcanic island.
Sources
Sources for Short-tailed Albatross
- IUCN Red List — look up Short-tailed Albatross (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
How close did the short-tailed albatross come to extinction?
It was hunted in huge numbers for its feathers and was thought possibly extinct in the mid-20th century before a small breeding group was found and protected.
Why is the short-tailed albatross still Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite its recovery from a tiny remnant, the volcanic risk at its main colony, and threats such as longline bycatch and plastic. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: