Our final Toroa for the week are special. Those shared previously can be relatively easily seen around the main islands of Aotearoa/New Zealand but this species usually needs a trip further south. Heading to the Subantarctic there is always great excitement when the first one is seen.

As an Albatross they are also Toroa but specifically Toroa pango – meaning dark albatross of black albatross. This ties in with the English name of Light mantled Sooty Albatross.

Pango is a descriptor for other bird names too. Manu pango for Blackbird, literally bird black and Tōrea pango for Variable Oystercatcher which has a black form.