Shy Albatross
Encyclopedia
The Shy Albatross or Shy Mollymawk, Thalassarche cauta, is a medium sized albatross
that breeds off Australia
and New Zealand
's sub-Antarctic
islands and ranges extensively across the Southern Ocean
. Some authorities call this species the White-capped Albatross.
was once considered to be the same species
as the Salvin's Albatross
, Thalassarche salvini and the Chatham Albatross
, Thalassarche eremita, but they were split around 2004. In 1998, Robertson and Nunn, suggested a four-way split including the White-capped Albatross
, Thalassarche steadi. The three-way split was accepted by Brooke in 2004, the ACAP
in 2006, SACC
in 2008, and BirdLife International by 2000. James Clements seems to be the last major holdout on the three-way split. The fourth split, steadi, was only accepted by the ACAP
in 2006, and BirdLife International in 2008. Finally, following Brooke, this species was shifted from Diomedea to Thalassarche, which was generally agreed upon by most experts.
Mollymawks are a type of Albatross that belong to Diomedeidae family and come from the Procellariiformes
order, along with Shearwater
s, Fulmar
s, Storm-petrel
s, and Diving-petrels. They share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. Although the nostrils on the Albatross are on the sides of the bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. Finally, they produce a stomach oil made up of wax ester
s and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus
. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. They also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.
, this species is considered the largest of the "mollymawks" or the small albatrosses. It is a black white and slate-grey bird with the characteristic black thumb mark at the base of the leading edge of the underwing. Adults have a white forehead and a crown, which is bordered on the bottom with a dark eyebrow and pale-grey face. Its mantle, tail, and upperwing are grey-black, and the rest is white. Its bill is grey-yellow with a prominent yellow culmen and yellow tip.
The Shy Albatross is endemic to Australia
and it breeds on three island colonies; Albatross Island
, Pedra Branca, and the Mewstone. During the breeding season, adults concentrate around southern Australia
and Tasmania
. Juvenile birds are known to fly as far as South Africa
; otherwise, non-breeding birds can be found throughout the southern oceans, but specifics are hard due to their similarity to the other species. It is sometimes found off the Pacific coast
of the United States
.
, with an occurrence range of 23900000 km² (9,227,841.6 sq mi). The population from an estimate in 2007 is 25,500 breeding birds with 5,100 pairs on Albatross Island
, 270 pairs on Pedra Branca, and 7,380 on the Mewstone. Historically, they were exploited for their feathers and by 1909, there were only 300 pairs left on Albatross Island
.
Today, longline fishing still impacts this species but their numbers are maintaining through this threat. They also have had an avian pox outbreak on Albatross Island
that has impacted their numbers slightly. Finally, the Australasian Gannet, Morus serrator is the primary threat to their survival.
Albatross
Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes . They range widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific...
that breeds off Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's sub-Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
islands and ranges extensively across the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
. Some authorities call this species the White-capped Albatross.
Taxonomy
This mollymawkMollymawk
The mollymawks are a group of medium sized albatrosses that form the genus Thalassarche. The name has sometimes been used for the genus Phoebetria as well, but these are correctly called sooty albatrosses. They are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, where they are the most common of the...
was once considered to be the same species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
as the Salvin's Albatross
Salvin's Albatross
Salvin's Albatross, or Salvin's Mollymawk, Thalassarche salvini, is a large seabird that ranges across the Southern Ocean. A medium sized mollymawk in the albatross family, it was long considered to be a subspecies of the Shy Albatross...
, Thalassarche salvini and the Chatham Albatross
Chatham Albatross
The Chatham Albatross, Chatham Mollymawk, or Chatham Islands Mollymawk, Thalassarche eremita, is a medium-sized black-and-white albatross which breeds only on The Pyramid, a large rock stack in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the Shy Albatross...
, Thalassarche eremita, but they were split around 2004. In 1998, Robertson and Nunn, suggested a four-way split including the White-capped Albatross
White-capped Albatross
The White-capped Albatross, Thalassarche steadi, is a mollymawk that breeds on the islands off of New Zealand. Not all experts agree that this form should be recognized as a separate species to the Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta...
, Thalassarche steadi. The three-way split was accepted by Brooke in 2004, the ACAP
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels is a legally binding international treaty signed in 2001.It was created in order to halt the drastic decline of seabird populations in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly albatrosses and procellariids...
in 2006, SACC
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
in 2008, and BirdLife International by 2000. James Clements seems to be the last major holdout on the three-way split. The fourth split, steadi, was only accepted by the ACAP
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels is a legally binding international treaty signed in 2001.It was created in order to halt the drastic decline of seabird populations in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly albatrosses and procellariids...
in 2006, and BirdLife International in 2008. Finally, following Brooke, this species was shifted from Diomedea to Thalassarche, which was generally agreed upon by most experts.
Mollymawks are a type of Albatross that belong to Diomedeidae family and come from the Procellariiformes
Procellariiformes
Procellariiformes is an order of seabirds that comprises four families: the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels...
order, along with Shearwater
Shearwater
Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. There are more than 30 species of shearwaters, a few larger ones in the genus Calonectris and many smaller species in the genus Puffinus...
s, Fulmar
Fulmar
Fulmars are seabirds of the family Procellariidae. The family consists of two extant species and two that are extinct.-Taxonomy:As members of Procellaridae and then the order Procellariiformes, they share certain traits. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called...
s, Storm-petrel
Storm-petrel
Storm petrels are seabirds in the family Hydrobatidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These smallest of seabirds feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.Storm petrels have a cosmopolitan...
s, and Diving-petrels. They share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. Although the nostrils on the Albatross are on the sides of the bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. Finally, they produce a stomach oil made up of wax ester
Wax ester
An ester of a fatty acid and a long-chain alcohol. These oils have similar properties as triglycerides, but are indigestible. They are found in some fish such as orange roughy, oilfish, escolar, black oreo, smooth oreo and other deep water fish. They are also present in marine copepods. Wax...
s and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus
Proventriculus
The proventriculus is part of the digestive system of birds, invertebrates and insects.-Birds:The proventriculus is a standard part of avian anatomy...
. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. They also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.
Description
The Shy Albatross measures 90 to 100 cm (35.4 to 39.4 in) in length, 210 to 260 cm (82.7 to 102.4 in) in wingspan, and 2.6 to 5.3 kg (5.7 to 11.7 lb) in weight. Alongside its similarly-sized sister species, the Salvin's AlbatrossSalvin's Albatross
Salvin's Albatross, or Salvin's Mollymawk, Thalassarche salvini, is a large seabird that ranges across the Southern Ocean. A medium sized mollymawk in the albatross family, it was long considered to be a subspecies of the Shy Albatross...
, this species is considered the largest of the "mollymawks" or the small albatrosses. It is a black white and slate-grey bird with the characteristic black thumb mark at the base of the leading edge of the underwing. Adults have a white forehead and a crown, which is bordered on the bottom with a dark eyebrow and pale-grey face. Its mantle, tail, and upperwing are grey-black, and the rest is white. Its bill is grey-yellow with a prominent yellow culmen and yellow tip.
Behavior
Feeding
The Shy Albatross feeds by a combination surface-seizing and some pursuit diving - it has been recorded diving as deep as 5 m (16.4 ft). Fish, cephalapods, crustacea, and tunicates are the subsistence for this species.Reproduction
The Shy Albatross breeds on rocky islands and build a mounded nest of soil, grass, and roots. They lay one egg in the second half of September.Range and habitat
| Location | Population | Date | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albatross Island Albatross Island (Tasmania) Albatross Island is an 18 ha island nature reserve in Bass Strait in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group and lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island. It is part of the Albatross Island and Black Pyramid Rock Important Bird Area... |
5,017 pair | 2007 | Increasing 3% per yr |
| Mewstone | 7,258 — 7,458 pair | 1996 | |
| Pedra Branca | 268 pair | 1996 | Decreasing 10% per yr |
| Total | 26,000 | 2007 | Unknown |
The Shy Albatross is endemic to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and it breeds on three island colonies; Albatross Island
Albatross Island (Tasmania)
Albatross Island is an 18 ha island nature reserve in Bass Strait in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group and lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island. It is part of the Albatross Island and Black Pyramid Rock Important Bird Area...
, Pedra Branca, and the Mewstone. During the breeding season, adults concentrate around southern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Juvenile birds are known to fly as far as South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
; otherwise, non-breeding birds can be found throughout the southern oceans, but specifics are hard due to their similarity to the other species. It is sometimes found off the Pacific coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Conservation
The IUCN classifies this species as Near ThreatenedNear Threatened
Near Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status...
, with an occurrence range of 23900000 km² (9,227,841.6 sq mi). The population from an estimate in 2007 is 25,500 breeding birds with 5,100 pairs on Albatross Island
Albatross Island (Tasmania)
Albatross Island is an 18 ha island nature reserve in Bass Strait in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group and lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island. It is part of the Albatross Island and Black Pyramid Rock Important Bird Area...
, 270 pairs on Pedra Branca, and 7,380 on the Mewstone. Historically, they were exploited for their feathers and by 1909, there were only 300 pairs left on Albatross Island
Albatross Island (Tasmania)
Albatross Island is an 18 ha island nature reserve in Bass Strait in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group and lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island. It is part of the Albatross Island and Black Pyramid Rock Important Bird Area...
.
Today, longline fishing still impacts this species but their numbers are maintaining through this threat. They also have had an avian pox outbreak on Albatross Island
Albatross Island (Tasmania)
Albatross Island is an 18 ha island nature reserve in Bass Strait in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group and lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island. It is part of the Albatross Island and Black Pyramid Rock Important Bird Area...
that has impacted their numbers slightly. Finally, the Australasian Gannet, Morus serrator is the primary threat to their survival.