Buller's Albatross

100

1 week ago

Points: 100

Spotted

Buller's Albatross is a medium-sized albatross endemic to the waters around New Zealand, named after the famous ornithologist Walter Buller. It is characterized by its distinctive dark grey head, white forehead, and a black bill with yellow stripes. This species is an elegant flyer and a specialist feeder on squid and fish.

Where to spot

Breeds on islands off New Zealand (Snares, Solander, Chatham Islands). Forages in the temperate waters of the New Zealand region and surrounding South Pacific.

How to spot

Look for its dark grey head with a white forehead, grey upperparts, white underparts, and a black bill with a prominent yellow stripe along the culmen and a yellow line along the lower mandible. Observe its smooth, graceful flight over the ocean. Requires pelagic trips for reliable sightings.

When to spot

Breeding occurs from November to June. Best observed during pelagic trips off the coast of New Zealand, especially around its breeding islands during the austral summer. Can sometimes be seen from mainland coastal viewpoints during strong winds.

Where to spot

Breeds on islands off New Zealand (Snares, Solander, Chatham Islands). Forages in the temperate waters of the New Zealand region and surrounding South Pacific.