Non-Breeding Birds Distribution Map

Short-tailed Albatross (Diomedea albatrus)

The Washington Gap Analysis Project created breeding bird maps only. The non-breeding birds (e.g., wintering, pelagic (coastal), and birds expanding their ranges) are represented only by NatureMapping sightings.

The Washington Gap Analysis Project could not find any historical research records (i.e., Breeding Bird Atlas, Breeding Bird Survey, Bird Banding and Recovery) for 73 species of birds. The Short-tailed Albatross is one of the species.

NatureMapping observations reported by townships throughout the year.

Species Distribution Information

This formerly common pelagic bird now is extremely rare of the West Coast. It breeds only on the Japanese island of Torishima. The entire world population at present is only 250 but increasing. This albatross once was common off the Washington Pacific Coast, but disappeared from the Washington waters before 1900. With partial recovery of the breeding population in the western Pacific in recent years, it has been sighted twice on Westport Audubon pelagic trips (Jan. 1993, Jan. 2001), once on Puget Sound (April 1997).