ML21796431

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Adult Shy Albatross photographed on 24 August 1999 off Point Arena, California. Still image taken from a digital video. Copyright of Angus Wilson© 1999

Observation details

Accepted by CBRC (see 1999 Report in Western Birds 33(1) 2002) and described in an article by Luke Cole's article (Cole, L. W. 2000. A first Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta, in California and acritical re-examination of Northern Hemisphere records of the former Diomedea cauta complex. N. Am. Birds 54:124–135.). Extensively documented by still photos and video. Larger than accompanying Black-footed Albatrosses. Salient details to rule out other southern mollymawks include the distinctive underwing pattern: mostly white with a very narrow black margin and diagnostic black pre-axillary notch ('thumbprint') at the base of the leading edge of the wing where it meets the torso. Steel gray mantle and upperwings. Inner primaries in active molt. Mantle was paler than the flight feathers and upperwing coverts. The tail was light gray, and prehaps slightly browner at the tips. The rump and uppertail coverts were white. The two North Pacific 'black-and-white' albatrosses: Short-tailed Albatross (Diomedea albatrus) and Laysan Albatross (D.immutabilis) can be eliminated based on multiple plumage details and in the case of Laysan Albatross by size relative to the accompanying Black-footed Albatrosses. Elimination of several southern 'dark-backed' albatrosses (mollymawks) requires more care. The near white-headed appearance and yellow-tipped bill indicates a mature bird that has been at sea for at least five years. A faint dusky wash is visible in a number of my video captures off-setting the pure white crown and forehead. This 'white cap' gives nominate Shy Albatross its alternative name, White-capped Albatross. The underwing pattern, specifically the very narrow dark margin, combined with the pre-axillary mark (thumbprint) is diagnostic for the Shy/Salvin's/Chatham Island Albatross species-cluster. Salvin's Albatross (D. salvini) and Chatham Island Albatross (D. eremita) have a similar underwing pattern, however there is more extensive black on the underside of the primaries and both species have an obvious gray hood at all ages.

Technical information

Dimensions

640 pixels x 480 pixels

Original file size

70.3 KB