Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Short-Tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Diomedeidae

Listing Status:   

Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND

General Information

The largest and only white-bodied albatross in the north Pacific. Golden, yellow cast on head and nape. Upper wings: white with black primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Under wing: white with black leading and trailing edges. White tail with black fringe. Large, pink bill with blue tip and black boarder around the base. Pale bluish feet and legs. Length: 84-91 cm (33.6-36.4 in); wingspan: 213-229 cm (7-7.5 ft); average life span: 12-45 yrs.

Map of Species occurrence

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Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)



This species is listed wherever it is found, but
    • States/US Territories in which the Short-Tailed albatross, Entire is known to or is believed to occur:  Alaska , California , Hawaii , Oregon , Washington
    • US Counties in which the Short-Tailed albatross, Entire is known to or is believed to occur:  View All
    • USFWS Refuges in which the Short-Tailed albatross, Entire is known to occur:  ALASKA MARITIME NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA PENINSULA/BECHAROF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA PENINSULA/BECHAROF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE-PAVLOF UNIT, ALASKA PENINSULA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS UNIT  ... Show All Refuges
    • Countries in which the the Short-Tailed albatross, Entire is known to occur:  Japan, Russia, Taiwan
    • For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/midway/wildlife/stal.html
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
06/02/1970 Alaska Region (Region 7) Entire

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 10: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
05/20/2009 74 FR 23739 23741 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus): Initiation of 5-Year Status Review; Availability of Final Recovery Plan
10/27/2005 70 FR 61988 61989 Draft Recovery Plan for the Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus): Notice of document availability for review and comment.
10/30/2001 66 FR 54808 54832 ETWP; Review of Plant and Animal Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened,Annual Notice of Findings on Recycled Petitions, and Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
07/31/2000 65 FR 46643 46654 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule To List the Short-Tailed Albatross as Endangered in the United States
10/25/1999 64 FR 57535 57547 Review of Plant and Animal Taxa That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Recycled Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions

» Action Plans

Action Plans (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Title
11/23/2009 Short-tailed Albatross Spotlight Species Action Plan

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
05/20/2009 Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) Final Recovery Plan View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 2 of 2)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
05/20/2009 74 FR 23739 23741 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus): Initiation of 5-Year Status Review; Availability of Final Recovery Plan
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
  • Notice Final Recovery Plan Availability
    • 10/27/2005 70 FR 61988 61989 Draft Recovery Plan for the Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus): Notice of document availability for review and comment.
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/30/2009 Short tailed albatross completed 5-yr review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Short-Tailed albatross, Entire.

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Short-Tailed albatross, Entire

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Short-Tailed albatross, Entire.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: March 12, 2013