The albatross, a large and iconic seabird, spends the vast majority of its life soaring over the world’s oceans, only returning to land for breeding. Their pelagic existence necessitates a diet strategy that supports long-distance foraging trips, often covering thousands of miles from the nesting colony. Since they are tied to land during chick-rearing, their dietary needs are substantial, requiring access to high-calorie, easily obtainable prey across their wide oceanic range. This reliance on surface waters and the ability to cover great distances creates specialized feeding behaviors.
Primary Components of the Albatross Diet
The albatross diet relies primarily on energy-rich marine prey, dominated by cephalopods like squid and octopus. Squid is a significant component, often serving as the main source of fat and protein for many species. Analysis of regurgitated squid beaks suggests albatrosses regularly scavenge dead or dying squid, including species too large to be caught alive or those living in the midwater column.
Fish also constitute a major part of their diet, providing necessary oils and calories. The specific fish species consumed vary widely by region, but albatrosses generally target those found near the surface or those that are commercially harvested and discarded. Smaller prey, such as crustaceans like krill, are consumed by some species, particularly those foraging in the Southern Ocean. Other gelatinous organisms and carrion provide opportunistic supplements.
Specialized Feeding Techniques
Albatrosses primarily acquire food through surface-seizing and skimming. They possess the physical adaptations to snatch prey from the water without fully immersing themselves, often landing on the water to pick up items. This strategy is effective for catching prey—such as squid, fish, or offal—that floats near the surface or has been brought up by currents or other predators.
Albatrosses also exhibit opportunistic, shallow diving capabilities to access food just below the water line. Most dives are brief and typically less than 20 feet, used to pursue accessible prey rather than deep-sea hunting. Scavenging is another important technique, especially around commercial fishing vessels where discarded offal and bycatch provide concentrated, high-calorie meals. This behavior, which includes feeding on large carcasses, offers a substantial energy supplement that reduces the effort needed for active hunting.
Geographic and Species-Specific Dietary Differences
The albatross diet varies considerably based on geographic location and species-specific adaptations. Dietary studies show that a single food list cannot accurately describe the entire family, which inhabits both the North Pacific and the Southern Ocean. For example, the two albatross species in Hawaii show distinct preferences: the Black-footed Albatross consumes mostly fish, while the Laysan Albatross relies more heavily on squid.
Differences are also evident between related species foraging in the same area, demonstrating ecological segregation. In the Southern Ocean, the Grey-headed Albatross may consume primarily squid (up to 50% of its diet), while the Black-browed Albatross may rely on krill (up to 40% of its intake). This variability is often linked to foraging habitat, with some species favoring prey in colder, oceanic waters and others targeting species closer to the continental shelf. These specialized diets minimize direct competition.
Human Impacts on Albatross Food Availability
Human activities challenge the albatross’s ability to secure traditional food sources. Commercial fishing depletes preferred prey stocks, forcing birds to expend more energy to find food. Although albatrosses opportunistically feed on fishery discards, the reduction in natural prey populations creates long-term food insecurity.
Climate change further complicates food availability by altering ocean currents and temperatures, disrupting the distribution and abundance of key prey species. Warming waters in the Southern Ocean, for example, have been linked to a thinning of prey sources, leading to severe food shortages. Furthermore, plastic pollution introduces non-food items, often mistaken for prey. Ingested plastic can cause physical obstruction, leading to false satiation and reducing the chick’s ability to process nourishment.