▁based ▁on ▁a ▁spec imen ▁from ▁the ▁Cape ▁of ▁Good ▁Hope . ▁ ▁Et ym ology ▁The ▁origin ▁of ▁the ▁name ▁mel an op hr is ▁comes ▁from ▁two ▁Greek ▁words ▁mel as ▁or ▁mel anos , ▁meaning ▁" black ", ▁and ▁o ph ris , ▁meaning ▁" ey eb row ", ▁referring ▁to ▁dark ▁fe ather ing ▁around ▁the ▁eyes . ▁ ▁Description ▁ ▁The ▁black - brow ed ▁al bat ross ▁is ▁a ▁medium - s ized ▁al bat ross , ▁at ▁ ▁long ▁with ▁a ▁ ▁wings pan ▁and ▁an ▁average ▁weight ▁of ▁. ▁It ▁can ▁have ▁a ▁natural ▁lif es pan ▁of ▁over ▁ 7 0 ▁years . ▁It ▁has ▁a ▁dark ▁grey ▁s addle ▁and ▁upper w ings ▁that ▁contrast ▁with ▁the ▁white ▁r ump , ▁and ▁under parts . ▁The ▁under wing ▁is ▁pre domin antly ▁white ▁with ▁broad , ▁irregular , ▁black ▁marg ins . ▁It ▁has ▁a ▁dark ▁e y eb row ▁and ▁a ▁yellow - or ange ▁bill ▁with ▁a ▁dark er ▁re dd ish - or ange ▁tip . ▁Ju ven iles ▁have ▁dark ▁horn - color ed ▁b ills ▁with ▁dark ▁tips , ▁and ▁a ▁grey ▁head ▁and ▁col lar . ▁They ▁also ▁have ▁dark ▁under w ings . ▁The ▁features ▁that ▁distinguish ▁it ▁from ▁other ▁mol ly ma w ks ▁( except ▁the ▁closely ▁related ▁Campbell ▁al bat ross ) ▁are ▁the ▁dark ▁e y est ri pe ▁which ▁gives ▁it ▁its ▁name , ▁a ▁broad ▁black ▁ed ging ▁to ▁the