Greg Lasley Nature Photography
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The Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) is one of the world's largest flying birds. Like the Wandering Albatross, this great albatross can reach wingspans of 12 feet. The species is mainly found at sea along both coasts of southern South America, westward in the southern oceans to the waters off New Zealand and southern Australia. The immature bird in flight was photographed near the Falklands in January, 2005, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/2.8 L lens and 1.4X extender. See below for two shots of a nesting Royal Albatross.

The Royal Albatross on a nest in this photo and the one immediately below were taken on Enderby Island, Aukland Islands, New Zealand, in December, 2001. These images were taken with a Canon EOS 3 and EF 70-200 F/2.8 L lens on Fuji Velvia. Note the black line on the cutting edge of the bill. This is hard to see on birds in flight, but a diagnostic character in separating this species from the similar Wandering Albatross.