Just the Facts: The albatrosses are a group of large to very
large birds; they are the largest of the procellariiformes.
Their bills are large, strong and sharp-edged, the upper
mandibles terminating in large hooks. These bills are composed
of several horny plates, and along the sides are the two
"tubes," long nostrils that give the order Beak or Nose? The
tubes of all albatrosses are along the sides of the bill, unlike
the rest of the Procellariiformes where the tubes run along the
top of the bill. These tubes allow the albatros- ses to have an
acute sense of smell, an unusual ability for birds. Like other
Procellariiformes they use this olfactory ability while foraging
in order to locate potential food sources. They Walk the Walk:
The feet have no hind toe and the three anterior toes are
completely webbed. The legs are strong for Procellariiformes, in
fact, almost uniquely amongst the order in that they and the
giant petrels are able to walk well Tasteful Plumage: The adult
plumage of most of the albatrosse