although related to the other north pacific albatrosses, it also exhibits behavioural and morphological links to the albatrosses of the southern ocean. it was described by the german naturalist peter simon pallas from skins collected by georg wilhelm steller (after whom its other common name is derived). once common, it was brought to the edge of extinction by the trade in feathers, but with protection efforts underway since the 1950s, the species is in the process of recovering with an increasing population trend. its breeding range, however, remains small.it is a part of the albatross family.