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The southern royal albatross or toroa, (Diomedea epomophora) is a large seabird from the albatross family. At an average wingspan of above 3 m (9.8 ft), it is one of the two largest species of albatross , together with the wandering albatross .
Northern royal albatrosses nest on the Chatham Islands (Forty-fours Island, Big Sister Island, and Little Sister Island), Enderby Island in the Auckland Islands, and Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsula of New Zealand. The Taiaroa Head colony is the only albatross colony found on a human-inhabited mainland in the Southern Hemisphere.
The snowy albatross and the southern royal albatross are the largest of the albatrosses and are among the largest of flying birds. They have the largest wingspans of any bird, being up to 3.5 m (11 ft) from tip to tip, although the average is a little over 3 m (9.8 ft).
Harington Point is located between Taiaroa Head, the site of the only mainland royal albatross colony in the world, [1] and Te Rauone beach, historically known for its many sand dunes which have eroded.
The first albatross egg at the head was discovered in 1919, although it was not until 1938 that ornithologist Dr Lance Richdale saw the first live fledging. [1] Since they first successfully raised a chick at Taiaroa Head, royal albatross numbers have increased due to intensive management by reserve rangers.
The Galapagos albatross is critically endangered with a declining population. Today, there are estimated to be around 50,000 to 70,000 individuals in the species.
A southern royal albatross: Note the large, hooked beak and nasal tubes. The albatrosses are a group of large to very large birds; they are the largest of the Procellariiformes. The bill is large, strong, and sharp-edged, with the upper mandible terminating in a large hook.
Tristan albatross: Diomedea dabbenena: 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) 5: Amsterdam albatross: Diomedea amsterdamensis: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) 6: Antipodean albatross: Diomedea antipodensis: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) 6: Andean condor: Vultur gryphus: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) 7: Northern royal albatross: Diomedea sanfordi: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) 7: Marabou stork: Leptoptilos ...