EN
Amsterdam Albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
Brooke, M. de L. 2004. Albatrosses and Petrels Across the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
Robertson, C. J. R.; Nunn, G. B. 1998. Towards a new taxonomy for albatrosses. In: Robertson, G.; Gales, R. (ed.), Albatross biology and conservation, pp. 13-19. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton, Australia.

IUCN Red list criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- D D1+2

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Endangered D
2016 Critically Endangered B2ab(v); C2a(ii)
2015 Critically Endangered B2ab(v); C2a(ii)
2013 Critically Endangered B2ab(v); C2a(ii)
2012 Critically Endangered B2ab(v);C2a(ii)
2010 Critically Endangered B2a+b(v); C2a(ii)
2009 Critically Endangered B2a+b(v); C2a(ii)
2008 Critically Endangered
2007 Critically Endangered
2006 Critically Endangered
2005 Critically Endangered
2004 Critically Endangered
2003 Critically Endangered
2000 Critically Endangered
1996 Critically Endangered
1994 Critically Endangered
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency Does not normally occur in forest
Land mass type Average mass 6270 g
Distribution

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 11,900,000 medium
Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) 4,400,000 medium
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 7 medium
Number of locations 1 -
Severely Fragmented -
Population and trend
Value Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals 92 good observed 2014
Population trend Increasing medium suspected -
Decline (3 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (5 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (10 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (10 years/3 generation future) - - -
Decline (10 years/3 generation past and future) - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage in largest subpopulation 100 - - -
Generation length (yrs) 27.2 - - -

Population justification: The number of mature individuals was estimated to be fewer than 50 until 1998 (C. Barbraud in litt. 2013), but Rains et al. (2011) estimated the population at c. 170 birds in total, including 80 mature individuals, with c. 26 pairs breeding annually. Between 2001 and 2007 there were c. 24-31 pairs breeding annually (Rivalan et al. 2010), and in 2014 the breeding population has reached 46 pairs (unpublished CNRS Chizé data from 2014 submitted to ACAP).

Trend justification: It is believed to have suffered severe declines in the 1970s, and so, over the past three generations (c.82 years), it has probably declined overall. However, the population increased between 1983-2009 (ACAP unpubl. data, Inchausti and Weimerskirch 2001, Rivalan et al. 2010). On average, adult survival is just over 97%, the highest ever found for an albatross (Cuthbert et al. 2004, Rivalan et al. 2010), and juvenile survival has also been reported to be very high (up to 70%), and this in part may explain the recent gradual growth of this population (Weimerskirch et al. 1997). However, there has been a recent decline in breeding success in this species, in parallel with a continuous decrease of the Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross population (Thalassarche carteri) on Amsterdam Island (Weimerskirch 2004), and D. amsterdamensis may now be stabilising (H. Weimerskirch in litt. 2016).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Occurrence status Presence Resident Breeding Non-breeding Passage
French Southern Territories N Extant Yes
High Seas N Extant Yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
French Southern Territories Plateau des Tourbières
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 1 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 2 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 3 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 5 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 6 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 7 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 9 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 12 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 13 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 14 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 16 - Marine
French Southern Territories Indian Ocean, Western 17 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 18 - Marine
French Southern Territories Indian Ocean, Western 19 - Marine
French Southern Territories Indian Ocean, Western 20 - Marine
French Southern Territories Indian Ocean, Western 72 - Marine
French Southern Territories Indian Ocean, Western 21 - Marine
French Southern Territories Indian Ocean, Eastern 19 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 22 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 23 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 24 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Eastern 21 - Marine
French Southern Territories Indian Ocean, Eastern 2 - Marine
French Southern Territories Indian Ocean, Western 28 - Marine
High Seas Indian Ocean, Western 29 - Marine
South Africa Atlantic, Southeast 18 - Marine

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Grassland Subantarctic major breeding
Marine Neritic Macroalgal/Kelp suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Macroalgal/Kelp suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic major non-breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic major breeding
Marine Neritic Seagrass (Submerged) suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Seagrass (Submerged) suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy-Mud suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy-Mud suitable breeding
Marine Oceanic Epipelagic (0-200m) major non-breeding
Marine Oceanic Epipelagic (0-200m) major breeding
Marine Oceanic Mesopelagic (200-1000m) major non-breeding
Marine Oceanic Mesopelagic (200-1000m) major breeding
Altitude 500 - 600 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Majority (50-90%) Very Rapid Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Bos taurus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Whole (>90%) Slow, Significant Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Pasteurella multocida Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2022) Species factsheet: Diomedea amsterdamensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 07/10/2022. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2022) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 07/10/2022.



© 2022 BirdLife International
Charity registration number 1042125
Connect With Us
© 2011-2022 QPQ Software Ltd.