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In total population, this species is much more numerous than Black-footed Albatross. However, it is seen less often off the west coast of North America (and generally farther offshore), although sightings have increased in recent decades. Beginning in the 1980s, it has been found nesting on islands off the west coast of Mexico, a range extension of thousands of miles. Oddly, several Laysan Albatrosses have been found far inland in the southwestern United States.

Restricted to the North Pacific, this is the only albatross seen commonly off the North American coastline. Its closest nesting colonies are in Hawaii. At sea it often follows ships, feeding on refuse in their wake.

This massive seabird, nesting on islands in the western North Pacific, was once a common visitor in offshore waters of the western U.S. and Canada. Driven almost to extinction in the early years of the 20th century, it has made a very slow comeback. It is now being seen regularly in small numbers at sea off southern Alaska, mainly near the Aleutian Islands, with scattered sightings elsewhere offshore as far south as California.

Mainly resident in the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans, this species sometimes strays north. It has been reported more than a score of times off our Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, mostly during summer. Generally far off the coast, but has been seen from shore more than once.