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The Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys, also known as the Black-browed Mollymawk, is a large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae; it is the most widespread and common member of its family.

Mollymawks are albatrosses in the family Diomedeidae and order Procellariiformes, which also includes shearwaters, fulmars, storm petrels, and diving petrels. These birds share certain identifying features. They have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns, although the nostrils on the albatross are on the sides of the bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates. They produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This is used against predators as well as being an energy-rich food source for chicks and also for the adults during their long flights. The albatross also has a salt gland above the nasal passage which helps to remove salt from the ocean water that they imbibe. The gland excretes a high saline solution through the bird's nose.

The origin of the name melanophrus comes from two Greek words melas or melanos, meaning "black", and ophrus, meaning "eyebrow", referring to dark feathering around the eyes.

The Black-browed Albatross is a medium-sized albatross, 31–37 in long, with a 79–94 in wingspan. It can have a natural lifespan of over 70 years.

It has a dark eyebrow and a yellow-orange bill with a darker reddish-orange tip. The features that distinguish it from other mollymawks (except the closely related Campbell Albatross) are the dark eyestripe which gives it its name, a broad black edging to the white underside of its wings, white head and orange bill, tipped darker orange. The Campbell Albatross is very similar but with a pale eye. Immature birds are similar to Grey-headed Albatrosses but have wholly dark bills and more complete dark head markings.

The Black-browed Albatross is circumpolar in the southern oceans, and it breeds on 12 islands throughout the southern oceans. In the Atlantic Ocean, it breeds on the Falklands, Islas Diego Ramírez, and South Georgia.

Colonies are very noisy as they bray to mark their territory, and also cackle harshly. They use their fanned tail in courting displays.

This species normally nests on steep slopes covered with tussock grass and sometimes on cliffs; however, on the Falklands it nests on flat grassland on the coast.

They are an annual breeder laying one egg from between 20 September and 1 November, although the Falklands, Crozet, and Kerguelen breeders lay about three weeks earlier. Incubation is done by both sexes and lasts 68 to 71 days. After hatching, the chicks take 120 to 130 days to fledge. Juveniles will return to the colony after two to three years but only to practice courtship rituals, as they start breeding around the 10th year.

Black-browed Albatross