Grey-headed Albatross

Identification

The grey-headed albatross is a large seabird averaging 81 cm in length with a wingspan of 2.2 m and weighing between 2.8 and 4.4 kg. Its most distinctive features are its ashy-grey head, throat, and upper neck, contrasting sharply with an almost-black mantle, upper wings, and tail. Look for a white rump and underparts, along with a striking white crescent behind each eye. The bill is characteristically black with bright yellow upper and lower ridges that shade to pink-orange at the tip. In flight, the underwings appear predominantly white with heavy black markings on the leading edge. Juveniles are darker overall, with black bills and heads, an indistinct eye crescent, and almost completely dark underwings.

Range & Habitat

This species has a circumpolar distribution throughout the Southern Ocean, nesting in colonies on several isolated islands including South Georgia (which holds around half the world's population), the Diego Ramírez Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Crozet Islands, Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands, Campbell Island, and Macquarie Island. While breeding, birds forage within or south of the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone, though those roosting near Marion Island venture into subtropical waters. Non-breeding birds and juveniles range freely across all southern oceans, reaching as far north as 35°S.

Behaviour & Diet

The grey-headed albatross is highly pelagic, feeding in open oceans rather than over continental shelves—a distinction that sets it apart from other mollymawks. Its diet consists predominantly of squid, supplemented by fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, lampreys, and carrion, with krill playing a minor role. The species can dive to depths of 7 m to pursue prey, though this occurs infrequently. Breeding pairs lay a single egg in large nests built on steep slopes or cliff faces with tussock grass, incubating it for 72 days. Chicks are fed approximately 616 g of food every 1.2 days and fledge after 141 days. Young birds typically do not return to the colony for 6–7 years, delaying first breeding for several years thereafter. Successfully breeding pairs take a year off from breeding. During non-breeding periods, adults exhibit remarkable migration strategies, including circumnavigating the globe—the fastest recorded circumnavigation took just 46 days.

Best Time & Places to See It

South Georgia in the South Atlantic offers the most reliable viewing opportunities, hosting the largest colonies. The Kerguelen Islands, Crozet Islands, Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands, and Campbell Island—all in the Southern Ocean—provide additional viewing locations. Campbell Island and Macquarie Island, both World Heritage Sites, offer protected viewing experiences. Travellers should note that this species feeds at higher southern latitudes than other mollymawks, so sightings at sea are most likely in polar waters south of the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone during breeding season or in more northern latitudes during non-breeding periods.

Photography Tips

The grey-headed albatross's striking head colouration and bold bill markings make it distinctive in photographs. The white crescent behind the eye and the contrast between the dark head and pale underparts provide excellent compositional elements. Capture the bright yellow bill ridges and pink-orange tip in good light to highlight the species' elegant field marks. The white underwing with heavy black leading-edge markings is particularly striking in flight photography. Given the species' highly pelagic nature, photographing birds at their nesting colonies on remote Southern Ocean islands—especially South Georgia—provides the most accessible opportunities for close-range shots and behavioural documentation.