Albatrosses of New Zealand

Northern Royal Albatross

All Albatrosses were photographed during multiple short range pelagics out of Kaikoura

The views of this, one of the great albatrosses, were far superior off Kaikoura than at the colony at Tairora Head, Otago. The birds at the colony have to be viewed through a tinted window where the views are quite poor. Other than that you rely on birds soaring over the nearby cliffs by the car park.

Note some of the identification features: The dark line along the cutting edges of the mandible is shared with only Southern Royal Albatross, not seen on any of the Wandering Albatrosses. The more solid dark wings separating from Southern Royal Albatross.