Context
Recently, a rare flight of Antarctica's Light-mantled Albatross to Tamil Nadu coast has intrigued the researchers.
- The location where the Albatross was spotted is part of the Palk Bay and near the Gulf of Mannar, an ‘Important Bird Area’ on India’s southeast coast.
About Light-mantled Albatross
- Light-mantled Albatross (Phoebetria palpebrate) is a small, dark albatross with pointed wings and tail.
- The bird, with broad pelagic habits, maintains a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Ocean.
- Light-mantled Albatross Known to be on the move, uses the wind and saves their energy during flights.
- Features:
- Ash coloured with darker areas around the head and lighter areas across the back and wingtips.
- Distinctive white stripe immediately above the eye.
- Native place: the Antarctic Seas
- IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Breeding Sites
- Everal sub-Antarctic islands, such as Macquarie Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Australia), South Georgia Island (British Overseas Territory), Prince Edward Islands (South Africa), Iles Kerguelen and Iles Crozet (France), and Auckland, Campbell, and Antipodes Islands (New Zealand).
