[Length 31.25 in. Wingspan 78 in.]

At first glance, the Laysan Albatross looks like a gull. But a closer examination reveals the exceptionally long wings which are the trademark of all Albatrosses. A more subtle field mark is the lack of white on the leading or trailing edges of the wings. All gulls show one or both of these field marks. The Laysan Albatross also seldom flaps its wings like a gull, but glides effortlessly over the waves. The combination of white head, dark back, and white rump distinguish the Laysan Albatross from other Albatrosses likely to be seen along the west coast of North America (e.g., the Black-footed Albatross is dark all over and the very rare Short-tailed Albatross has a white back). Laysan Albatrosses breed on Pacific Islands, but spend most of their life at sea. This Laysan Albatross was photographed from the ferry which runs from Tokyo to Kushiro (on the northern island of Hokkaido), Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 32 in. Wingspan 62 in.]

This juvenile Blue-footed Booby was photographed at the Lake LBJ Resort and Marina, Granite Shoals, Texas. Photo equipment unknown. (Date: December 17, 2016)

[Length 30 in. Wingspan 57 in.]

This Brown Booby in flight was photographed at the Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens on a Nikon D7100 camera. (Date: July 4, 2014)

[Length 30 in. Wingspan 57 in.]

This Brown Booby was photographed at the Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens on a Nikon D7100 camera. (Date: July 4, 2014)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 60 in.]

Red-footed Boobies occur in tropical waters around the world and are sometimes seen at the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico and along the southern California coast in North America. This adult Red-footed Booby was photographed soaring over the cliffs near a nesting site at Kilauea Point on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, USA. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: December 1981)

[Length 28 in. Wingspan 60 in.]

This immature Red-footed Booby was photographed soaring over the cliffs near a nesting site at Kilauea Point on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, USA. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: December 1981)

[Length 40 in. Wingspan 90 in.]

Magnificent Frigatebirds occur in tropical waters in the New World and eastern Africa. They are sometimes seen along the southern coasts of the US. This male was photographed soaring over Sanibel Island, Florida, USA. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: November 1979)

[Length 40 in. Wingspan 91 in.]

This Magnificent Frigatebird was photographed at Santa Clara Beach, El Valle de Anton, Panama. Photo taken with a AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED [II] lens (EFL=300mm) on a Nikon D7000 camera. (Date: August 13, 2011)