An assessment of the conservation status of albatrosses

The conservation status of albatrosses has been re-evaluated using the recent suggested taxonomic revisions of albatrosses and the new IUCN criteria for identification of threatened taxa. The evaluations of threat status and categories were prepared by independent albatross specialists before being critically reviewed and endorsed by Birdlife International.
This evaluation reveals albatrosses to have the highest proportion of threatened species in any bird family that comprises more than a single species. Of the 24 albatross species recognized in the new taxonomy, two species (Amsterdam Albatross and Chatham Albatross) are Critically Endangered, two species (Northern Royal Albatross and Tristan Albatross( are Endangered, and 16 species are classed as Vulnerable. Currently only the two most abundant albatross species, the Black-browed (Near Threatened) and Laysan Albatrosses are classified as Lower Risk. For two species (Light-mantled Albatross and Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross) the present level of knowledge regarding population trend and status provides an inadequate basis for classification and these are assessed as Data Deficient.