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Shy albatross

The shy albatross (Thalassarche cauta), also known as the shy mollymawk, is a medium-sized albatross that breeds on three remote islands off the coast of Tasmania, Australia, in the southern Indian Ocean. Its lifespan is about 60 years, and it has been seen as far afield as South Africa and the Pacific coast of the United States. As of June 2020, the species is listed as "Endangered" in Australia; there are thought to be 15,000 pairs of shy albatross left. It is Australia's only endemic albatross.

Some authorities call this species the white-capped albatross, but that name is more commonly applied to Thalassarche cauta steadi.

Read more on Wikipedia ↗

Where it's recorded

Citizen-science sightings place the shy albatross near 7 Australian suburbs, including Bells Beach, Cape Barren Island, Stormlea, Nelson Bay, Eddystone, Couta Rocks.

Photo & summary via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA); sightings via the Atlas of Living Australia. Data credits →