The Light-mantled Albatross,Grey-mantled Albatross or the Light-mantled Sooty AlbatrossPhoebetria palpebrata, is a small albatross in the genus Phoebetria, which it shares with the Sooty Albatross.
The Light-mantled Albatross is largely sooty-brown or blackish in color, darker on the head, with paler upperparts from the nape to the upper tail-coverts which are grey to light grey, palest on the mantle and back. The plumage has been described as being similar in appearance to the coloring of a Siamese cat. The eyes are partly encircled with thin post-orbital white crescents of very short grey feathers.
The Light-mantled Albatross has a circumpolar pelagic distribution in the Southern Ocean. It ranges in latitude from the pack-ice around Antarctica. It breeds on several subantarctic islands.
They have a loud shrill voice that is trumpet-like, and when threatened will snap their bills or utilize a throaty 'gaaaa'. When courting will utilize aerial displays and formation flying. They will also use mutual calling with deviations in tone brought occurring by head positioning, and finally, they do use their tail in displays more than other albatrosses.