Regional Nesting Sites of the Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi).

References. Green dots: colonies and the percentage of the world population that each area represents. Blue text: populations for which the Atlas provides distribution data. Red text: populations for which there are no data. Blue circle: colonies of origin of individuals studied.

Principal feeding areas

Northern Royal Albatrosses arrive on the southern part of the Patagonian shelf early in the year, later they move northwards and forage during August in the northern part of the shelf and slope. Only a few individuals spend the winter on the Chilean continental shelf. After months in the Patagonian Sea, all of them travel to the east to complete a round-the-world flight.

Data on 8 individuals of both sexes from New Zealand: Chatham Islands (5 adults) and Taiaroa Head (1 adult and 2 juveniles). Period: January-October.

Dataholders: D. Nicholls and C.J.R. Robertson.

During autumn and winter, adults of Northern Royal Albatross from New Zealand make intense use of the slope and shelf, particularly the waters opposite the Río de la Plata. Visits to the inshore waters of San Matias Gulf were exceptional.

Data on 5 adult of both sexes from the Chatham Islands (New Zealand). Period: April-September.

Dataholders: D. Nicholls and C.J.R. Robertson.

During autumn and winter, juveniles of Northern Royal Albatross from New Zealand make particular use of the shelf and slope waters opposite the San Matias Gulf. Inshore visits to San Jorge Gulf are exceptional.

Data on 2 juveniles of both sexes from Taiaroa Head (New Zealand). Period: March-October.

Dataholders: D. Nicholls and C.J.R. Robertson.