Laysan Albatross Mating Dance

This is the mating dance of the Laysan Albatross. As you can see it is a mix of head and wing movements along with trumpeting and beak clacking. I think its pretty entertaining.

The albatross are monogamous and mate for life. Only if a bird's mate dies will the albatross go in search of a new partner. The birds, once they establish a nesting site, tend to return there to nest year after year.

At this time of year, it is probably a little late to be mating and laying eggs. What's happening here is that these birds are likely younger sub-adult birds who are practicing their skills of persuasion. Probably next year these two will come back to dance, mate, and bring a new albatross chick into the world. Albatross can live for a long time. One female bird that was tagged was found returning to mate on Midway Atoll for over 50 years.

Video recorded 12-10-2006 on Midway Atoll, Sand Island

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• birds
• laysan
• albatross
• mating
• dance

[Articuno19]

Such a beautiful bird as they need to be saved from longline fishing hooks.

[pueo77]

yes they do. Thankfully the industry in North America is constantly working on ways to reduce their by-catch. Recent new techniques have reduced albatross catch significantly

[djwithnoname]

they SHRED the air around them like small jet fighters.

[VentePaDu]

Hey if you like this check out the emu mating dance...it is hilarious!

[pueo77]

It is rather amusing. That's what albatross observers refer to as the "sky call". There's actually a statue on Midway of an albatross in that exact pose.

[pat20874]

This is amazing -- sights and sounds I haven't seen nor heard in almost 40 years! I lived on Midway Island as a small child, from 1966-69. I remember being very amused by the mating rituals of the "gooney birds!" And when my parents put me to bed well before dark, hearing that racket outside my bedroom window was not conducive to sleep! Thanks for posting this -- I didn't think I'd ever see or hear the gooney mating dance again, without making the trip back to Midway!

[parrotvotti]

Awesome!! Thanks for posting this