Light-mantled sooty albatross has a sooty brown head with a white crescent behind the eye. The body is ash-grey with a darker grey belly. With an average wingspan of 200 cm, it is among the smallest of the albatrosses.

Light-mantled sooty albatross has a circumpolar distribution, generally near or below the Antarctic Convergence. Breeding occurs biennially on several isolated islands in the southern oceans, including the Auckland, Antipodes, Campbell, and Macquarie Islands in New Zealand.

Light-mantled sooty albatross are considered ‘Gradual decline’ by the Department of Conservation and ‘Near threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It has been estimated that there are around 6,800 breeding pairs.

Light-mantled albatross feeds mainly on squid, other cephalopods, and fish, with crustaceans and carrion also taken. It is estimated they can dive to as deep as 12 metres in pursuit of prey.

Light-mantled is believed to be affected by commercial fishing activities, particularly longlining, though there have been few recent captures in New Zealand.

International Union for Conservation of nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red list

New Zealand Threat Classification System list