Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata Scientific name definitions

Waved Albatross has a unique distribution for an albatross. While most species are either concentrated to the south of the Tropic of Capricorn or the north of the Tropic of Cancer, Waved Albatross occurs almost exclusively off the northwest coast of South America, and is thus the only species to live exclusively within tropical latitudes. The species breeds primarily on Hood Island in the Galapagos Archipelago, but also has a small colony on the Isla de la Plata off Ecuador. The breeding season begins when these albatrosses return to land in March. Nonbreeding albatrosses range at sea off the coasts of Ecuador and Peru, where they feed on large fish and squid. Due to the nocturnal habits of the squid, Waved Albatross often feeds primarily at night.