Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos Feeding on a Dead Sea Turtle

Authors

Fabio Schunck, Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos - CBROFollow
Patrick Pina
Fábio Barata
Fábio Olmos

Abstract

Albatrosses mostly forage for fish, squid, and crustaceans (including discards from fishing vessels), but they also scavenge animal carcasses, a behavior still poorly characterized for some albatross species. In July 2021 during a pelagic birding trip off the coast of São Paulo State, Southeast Brazil, three Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos were spotted feeding on the floating carcass of a Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta. This behavior had not been previously documented in the literature, on-line citizen science platforms, or by personal observations. We believe this to be an uncommon feeding strategy for this albatross species.

DOI

http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.50.2.1482

Creative Commons License

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Recommended Citation

Schunck, Fabio; Pina, Patrick; Barata, Fábio; and Olmos, Fábio (2022) "Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos Feeding on a Dead Sea Turtle," Marine Ornithology: Vol. 50 : Iss. 2 , Article 11.
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.50.2.1482
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/marine_ornithology/vol50/iss2/11