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'''Alternative name: Buller's Mollymawk''' | '''Alternative name: Buller's Mollymawk''' | ||
| + | [[Image:d08_2400.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br/>Location: Pacific Ocean off the coast of [[Chile]].]] | ||
;[[:Category:Thalassarche|Thalassarche]] bulleri | ;[[:Category:Thalassarche|Thalassarche]] bulleri | ||
| − | + | '''Includes Pacific Albatross''' | |
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
A small mollymawk: Length 76-81cm. Wingspan 205-213cm.<br/> | A small mollymawk: Length 76-81cm. Wingspan 205-213cm.<br/> | ||
'''Adult:''' back and upperwing brownish-black, rump white and tail greyish-black, underparts white. Head grey with contrasting white forehead and dark eyebrow. Underwing white with dark tip, broad dark leading edge and narrow dark trailing edge. Iris dark brown, bill black with yellow culminicorn and ramicorn, legs pinkish blue.<br/> | '''Adult:''' back and upperwing brownish-black, rump white and tail greyish-black, underparts white. Head grey with contrasting white forehead and dark eyebrow. Underwing white with dark tip, broad dark leading edge and narrow dark trailing edge. Iris dark brown, bill black with yellow culminicorn and ramicorn, legs pinkish blue.<br/> | ||
'''Immature:''' juvenile as adult but bill pale brownish-horn with darker tip and darker brownish-grey head. Culminicorn and ramicorn become yellower with age and head becomes greyer. | '''Immature:''' juvenile as adult but bill pale brownish-horn with darker tip and darker brownish-grey head. Culminicorn and ramicorn become yellower with age and head becomes greyer. | ||
| + | [[Image:Bullers_Albatross.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by Corwin]] | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
* Distinguished from [[Grey-headed Albatross]] by narrower dark leading edge to underwing and whiter forehead. | * Distinguished from [[Grey-headed Albatross]] by narrower dark leading edge to underwing and whiter forehead. | ||
Revision as of 18:27, 2 June 2009
Alternative name: Buller's Mollymawk
- Thalassarche bulleri
Includes Pacific Albatross
Identification
A small mollymawk: Length 76-81cm. Wingspan 205-213cm.
Adult: back and upperwing brownish-black, rump white and tail greyish-black, underparts white. Head grey with contrasting white forehead and dark eyebrow. Underwing white with dark tip, broad dark leading edge and narrow dark trailing edge. Iris dark brown, bill black with yellow culminicorn and ramicorn, legs pinkish blue.
Immature: juvenile as adult but bill pale brownish-horn with darker tip and darker brownish-grey head. Culminicorn and ramicorn become yellower with age and head becomes greyer.
Similar Species
- Distinguished from Grey-headed Albatross by narrower dark leading edge to underwing and whiter forehead.
- Distinguished from Salvin's Albatross by smaller size, greyer head, bill colour and different underwing pattern.
Distribution
Breeds in the New Zealand sector on the Sisters and Forty-fours in the Chatham Islands and on the Snares Islands, Solander and Three Kings Islands. Post-breeding dispersal to seas off southern and south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, and across South Pacific to seas off Peru and Chile, rarely north of about 300S.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognised. Nominate race breeds Solander and Snares Islands, present December to August and disperses towards Australia. Race platei breeds on the Chatham Islands two-three months earlier and moves towards South America.
Diomedea vs. Thalassarche
Genera Phoebastria and Thalassarche formerly placed in the Diomedea, but now considered by virtually all authorities (Clements, Howard & Moore, AOU, BOU, SACC) to be separate genera in light of Nunn et al. (1996) and Penhallurick & Wink (2004).
Habitat
Breeds on islands, otherwise at sea.
Behaviour
Feeds on squid, cuttlefish, crustaceans and fish, sometimes refuse from ships. Breeding season on the Chatham Islands October-November with young fledging in April-May, on Solander and Snares Islands lays February with young fledging in August.
Vocalisation
Sheep-like bleating call at nest, grunting, coughing and cackling calls when competing for food at sea.
