[2] Its breeding plumage is brown and white and its juveniles are similar in appearance to the snowy albatross.

[11] Breeding males are whiter than females, but not as white as the snowy albatross, and both sexes have a pink bill.

The females of the nominate race have a dark brown breast band and the males have a darker cap, tail, and humeral flexure than gibsoni.

[2] Pigs and feral cats are hurting the population on Auckland Island and longline fishing is still impacting them.

Recent studies have shown that a rise in Tasman Sea temperature may be impacting gibsoni.

Cats and pigs need to be removed from the Auckland Islands, the fisheries need to be worked with and the ocean temperature fluctuations need to be studied to help this species survive.