Lequette B. & Jouventin P. (1991) Comparison of visual and vocal signals of Great Albatrosses. ARDEA 79 (3): 383-394

The acoustic and visual signals of reproductive behaviour are compared among species and subspecies of great albatrosses. The nuptial display of the Amsterdam Albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis is described for the first time. Differences among Royal D. epomophora, Wandering D. exulans and Amsterdam Albatrosses were found to be numerous. The two latter species were relatively similar in this respect yet presented consistent differences, for instance in the 'Whine call' and the 'Sky-Position Call'. The biological significance of the differences observed, the species affinities and the implications for systematics are discussed.