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3

Shy Albatross

(Thalassarche cauta)
Alternate name(s): "Shy Mollymawk"; "White-capped Albatross" (race "steadi")
Size: 0.9-1.0 m; wing span 2.1-2.6 m
Weight: 3.3-4.9 kg

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Shy Albatross at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "cauta"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Shy Albatross; note the yellow wash to the base of the bill which is characteristic of race "cauta"
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Close-up near-lateral view of two Shy Albatrosses (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of two Shy Albatrosses, with one extending its wings (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Frontal comparison of a Shy Albatross, left back, with a Black-browed Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Near-lateral view onto the underwing pattern of a Shy Albatross in flight (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Near-lateral view onto the upperwing pattern of a Shy Albatross in flight (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a Shy Albatross skimming the waves (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

While on the water, the difference in size between a Shy Albatross and a Southern Royal Albatross appears to be small, but with their wings spread in flight, the difference becomes clear (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of an immature Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Frontal view of an immature Shy Albatross in flight
[22 NM (40 km) ESE of Terrigal, NSW, July 2013]

Near-frontal/ventral view of an immature Shy Albatross
[22 NM (40 km) ESE of Terrigal, NSW, July 2013]

Lateral/ventral view of an immature Shy Albatross
[22 NM (40 km) ESE of Terrigal, NSW, July 2013]

Near-dorsal view of an immature Shy Albatross in flight
[22 NM (40 km) ESE of Terrigal, NSW, July 2013]

Distant view of a Shy Albatross, right, followed by a Black-browed Albatross, left (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Wattamolla, Royal NP, NSW, June 2013]

Race "steadi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a Shy Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral comparison of a Shy Albatross, front, with a Black-browed Albatross (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Food, Diet

Shy Albatross competing with a Black-browed Albatross for food scraps (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Shy Albatross grabbing food scraps (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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