Ageing Black-browed Albatrosses

Bob Flood and colleagues have published in the journal British Birds on ageing criteria for ACAP-listed Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris.

The paper’s abstract follows.

“The basics of moult, wear, plumage and bill colour are described and illustrated for the Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris.  Ageing criteria are presented for birds up to six years old, after which the majority cannot be aged accurately.”

Black-browed Albatross, photograph by John Larsen

Reference:

Flood, B., Fisher, A. &Gale, J. 2015.  Ageing criteria for the Black-browed Albatross.  British Birds Vol. 108.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 September 2015