ML523542751

Observation details

After some discussion, the Royal Albatross encountered halfway back across the shelf was identified on the boat as a Northern Royal Albatross. This was largely based on the combination of the narrow white lower edge to the wing, the all-dark upperwings, the largely white back, and the moderate size of the bird. However, this was immediately questioned on social media and experienced birders from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa all claimed this was actually a Southern Royal Albatross. However, they were disadvantaged by only seeing a couple of photos from an angle that made the white leading edge appear more prominent than it really was. There is now a strong consensus that the initial identification as a Northern Royal Albatross was entirely correct. The Royal Albatross appeared to be rather weak and unwell. It very awkwardly flapped across the water to the boat and ravenously ate a few chicken skins, but at no stage flew (thus no flight images). It was joined by Indian Yellow-nosed, Black-browed, and Campbell Albatrosses and although obviously much larger, it didn’t appear to be a massive bird, like some Southern Royal Albatrosses so clearly are. Trying to estimate the age of this bird had the potential to really help with the identification. Ageing Diomedea up to 5 years old is possible by recognising the different generations of primary and secondary feathers. However, picking the contrast in the secondaries was very difficult from the photos we had available, thus we concentrated on the primaries. Vincent Mourik was a great help trying to judge these different generations of primaries. See the images below that show at least three generations of primaries (and P4 on the left wing may even be a 4th generation but this can’t be confirmed). Royal Albatrosses will first lose their outer three or four primaries in their 3rd cycle, losing the mid-primaries next, and the inner primaries last (for typical moult progression). Thus, as the newest primaries on this bird were the inner three primaries on each wing, we should consider this bird is at the very least a 4th cycle bird and more likely a 5th cycle bird (or possibly even older). Key identification pointers: 1. The thin narrow white lower leading edge to the wing There was only a very narrow white lower leading edge to the wing; the upper half of the leading edge is still black. This alone largely rules out all but the very youngest Southern Royal Albatrosses, and definitely rules out a Southern Royal Albatross in its 4th or 5th cycle. Furthermore, this thin white lower leading edge is uniform across both the radial (inner) and humeral (outer) sections. In a Southern Royal Albatross of this age (4th/5th cycle), you would expect the white leading edge to be notably thicker along the radial edge (inner leading edge). 2. The dark carpal wedge (the black bar on the leading edge of the outer underwing) Although the dark black carpal wedge of this bird is slightly patchy, it is still reasonably well developed and broad. It fits perfectly fine for an immature Northern Royal Albatross. In contrast, the limited literature discussing this feature for Southern Royal Albatrosses suggests they only show a dark carpal wedge in their first one or two cycles and this feature is very reduced or absent thereafter. Thus a 4th or 5th cycle Southern Royal Albatross would not be expected to show such a strong dark carpal wedge. 3. The dark upperwings Although adult Northern Royals can have beautifully satin black upperwings, the patchily dark brown/sooty upperwings of this bird are typical for an immature Northern Royal Albatross with variably worn coverts and remiges. If this were a 4th or 5th cycle Southern Royal Albatross it would show at least a small white elbow patch and likely would have substantial white edges on at least the lesser coverts. 4. Clean white back and mostly white tail This bird has a nearly completely white back (only two feathers on the lower back retain greyish vermiculations). We can’t find any Southern Royal Albatross images showing birds with such dark upperwings (no white elbow patches) and a nearly completely white back. The tail is also mostly white with limited grey spots on the centre of some feathers and on the outermost rectrices. Retained dark patches on outermost rectrices are considered more typical of Northern Royal Albatrosses. 5. Retained dark flecking on the crown This bird still has remnant dark crown flecking (though very reduced). Dark crown flecks are much commoner in Northern Royal Albatrosses and the rare instances where Southern Royal Albatrosses show this feature, it typically involves much reduced dark spotting which would likely be completely lost on a 4th or 5th cycle bird. In summary we are confident this is an immature Northern Royal Albatross (likely 4th or 5th cycle).