One of the smallest albatross with a wingspan of 205 to 213 cm. The Buller's albatross is similar to other grey-headed albatross, but has a striking black and yellow bill, a white forecap, black patch before the eye, a thin white crescent to the rear of and below the eye and a mostly white underwing with a moderately broad sharply defined leading edge. Immature individuals are separated from the immature grey-headed albatross by the underwing pattern and lighter bill with a contrasting dark sub-terminal spot.