- Thalassarche chlororhynchos
Description
Subspecies: Two subspecies recognised. Nominate race breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island and bassi on the islands of the southern Indian Ocean. Race bassi differs in white head and this, with bill-colour and underwing pattern, is diagnostic.
Identification
Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos) AKA Yellow-nosed Mollymawk Identification: Length 71-81 cm. Wingspan 180-210 cm. The smallest southern albatross but similar to other mollymawks. Adult: back blackish-grey, upperwings blackish, rump white, tail dark grey and underparts white. Head grey with white nape and hindneck. Underwing white with black tip and clear-cut margins, broadest on leading edge. Iris brown, bill black with yellow culminicorn and pinkish tip, legs bluish-pink. Immature: as adult but head whiter and bill all-dark. Identified by combination of bill-colour and underwing pattern which is intermediate between Black-browed D. melanophris and Shy D. cauta.
Distribution & Taxonomy
South Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans. Breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough, St Paul, Amsterdam, Prince Edward and Crozet Islands. After breeding disperses to South Atlantic and Indian Oceans between 150S and 450S. The commonest albatross off eastern South Africa in May-September and off southern Western Australia in May-October where occurs north to Point Cloates. Vagrants recorded in the Gulf of Mexico and off the eastern seaboard of the USA as far north as Quebec. Also reported from the north-east Atlantic but there are no currently accepted records.
Habitat
Colonial breeder on cliffs of remote islandsand present from August until May, otherwise at sea. Sometimes follows ships.
Behaviour
Voice: Bleating calls and bill-clapping in display, coughing and grunting sounds when competing for food at sea.
Breeding: Breeds in southern summer with egg-laying starting in mid-September. Nest is a large bowl made of mud and vegetable matter. Single egg, white marked with brown at larger end (96 x 62mm). Incubated by both parents for about 55-60 days and young fed by both parents. Fledges after 5 months.
Diet: Squid and fish, sometimes refuse from ships.
