Wow! News started trickling in yesterday afternoon that a Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) had been spotted at Cordell Bank (5 October 2025). I wasn't on the boat, but I asked if I could share a couple of photos because this is an intriguing record — and a first for North America!
Waved Albatross are more often seen off Ecuador, Peru, and northern Chile. They nest on Española Island in the Galápagos and on Isla de la Plata off Ecuador. They are unusual among albatross species in having a primarily tropical distribution. Prior to this record, the farthest north one had been observed was off Costa Rica (looks like possibly two records there, one in 1993 and another in 2014?). Marin County is the farthest north a Waved Albatross has been seen by far.
This is a distinctive albatross. Note the pale head and dark body/wings, the large yellow bill, a hint of yellow (sometimes called a suffusion) along the back of the head and neck, beautiful black-and-white vermiculations along the lower neck area, and blue legs and feet. [You can click on the images for larger versions.]
With many thanks to Glen Tepke who kindly provided these terrific photos.
2 comments:
Wowsers! What a gift to see such a remote and beautiful creature. Thank you.
Thanks for your post and to the photographer of this incredible Albatross. I've been reading the posts from the birders and the enthusiasm surrounding this bird so far north. To know more about the bird from your post makes it all the more incredible. Vi
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