Toroa – our giants of the skies

Of the world’s 22 species of albatross, nearly half can be found in Aotearoa. These include the wandering or snowy albatross (Diomedea exulans). Its wingspan of up to 3.5 metres makes it the world’s largest living bird – rivalled in size by the southern royal albatross. Other local species include the northern royal albatross (with a wingspan typically closer to 3 metres) and the rare and threatened antipodean albatross.

In 2024 the Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao took to the high seas to endorse the mighty toroa/albatross for Bird of the Year!

The ocean life of a toroa

Toroa live wandering lives. Most of the time, they can be found over the ocean feeding on squid and fish and gathering to breed in colonies like the one at Taiaroa Head in Dunedin. Many species fly regularly between New Zealand and South America, and species from here have been spotted as far afield as Africa.

Evolved for flight

Toroa have physiological and behavioural adaptations that allow them to fly for almost 1,000 kilometres per day without flapping their wings. Tendons in their shoulders lock the wings in place when fully extended, letting them glide effortlessly. They fly in a pattern known as dynamic soaring, utilising altitude and wind speed to maintain momentum over vast distances.

This requires a keen sense of their own airspeed, made possible by the prominent nostril tubes along the sides of their beaks. They also have saline glands at the base of their beaks, allowing them to consume saltwater and sea creatures and excrete the excess salt.

Toroa in pūrākau and story

The birds are named after a 14th century rangatira named Toroa. He was the captain of the waka Mataatua, which sailed from Hawaiki to Aotearoa with a cargo of precious kūmara. Toroa hold deep significance for many seafaring peoples, featuring in pūrākau, legends and stories around the world.

One of the best-known stories to feature albatross is Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1798 poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, where a toroa helps the crew of a ship trapped in Antarctic ice. The crew later shoot the bird and are cursed to misfortune.

The motif of harm coming to one who harms a toroa also appears in the pūrākau of Pourangahau, who was said to have sailed from Aotearoa to Hawaiki in search of kūmara. Pourangahau was given the kūmara seed by a rangatira from Hawaiki who allowed him to carry it home on the back of a toroa.

Disobeying his instructions on how to care for the bird, Pourangahau was responsible for the albatross’s death and his crop of kūmara was cursed by blight and insects. This story and that of Toroa link the albatross with the introduction of kūmara to Aotearoa.

Long lives threatened

The natural lifespan of toroa is around 40–50 years but some have been known to live considerably longer. The world’s oldest confirmed wild bird is a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, estimated to be over 70 years. A northern royal albatross named Grandma nested at Taiaroa Head until she was over 60 years.

The Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai lists toroa at the Nationally Vulnerable level of threatened species. Immediate threats to their survival include bycatch from fishing boats and ocean pollution in the form of plastics that can be ingested by the birds.

Their habitats are also under threat from climate change. Scientists use satellites to monitor the birds’ habitats and flight paths. This data can be used to ensure that areas like Taiaroa Head and the Chatham Islands remain safe for toroa to nest and breed.

Toroa – Bird of the Year

Forest & Bird’s yearly Bird of the Year contest is a fun and world-famous way of communicating facts and knowledge about our amazing manu. In previous years, the Science Learning Hub has supported takahē, ruru and the extinct huia in 2023’s Bird of the Century contest.

Whichever bird you vote for, learning and sharing facts about Aotearoa’s native birds is a great way to support our taiao. There are lots of other ways to take action and champion kaitiakitanga in Aotearoa. For their record size, amazing adaptations and far-flying ways, our vote went to toroa for Bird of the Year 2024!