White-capped albatross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thalassarche cauta steadi |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Diomedeidae |
| Genus: | Thalassarche |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
T. c. steadi
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| Trinomial name | |
| Thalassarche cauta steadi (Falla, 1933)
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The white-capped albatross (Thalassarche cauta steadi) is a type of mollymawk. It is a large seabird that makes its home on islands near New Zealand.
Some scientists believe this bird is a separate species. Others think it is a subspecies of the shy albatross, Thalassarche cauta. It is a medium-sized albatross with black, gray, and white feathers. It is also the biggest of all mollymawks.
Contents
About Albatrosses and Their Family
Mollymawks are a kind of albatross. They belong to the Diomedeidae family. This family is part of a larger group called Procellariiformes. Other birds in this group include shearwaters, fulmars, and storm petrels.
These birds have special features. They have nasal passages called naricorns on their upper bill. Albatross nostrils are on the sides of their bill. Their bills are also unique, made of seven to nine hard plates.
Procellariiformes birds also make a special stomach oil. This oil is stored in their stomach. They use it to defend themselves from predators. It is also a rich food source for their chicks. Adults use it for energy during long flights.
They also have a salt gland above their nose. This gland helps remove salt from their bodies. It lets out a salty liquid from their nose. This helps them drink ocean water without getting too much salt.
The white-capped albatross is part of a group of albatrosses. This group includes the shy albatross, Salvin's albatross, and Chatham albatross. Scientists sometimes disagree on how to classify these birds.
In 1998, some experts suggested splitting them into four different species. Organizations like BirdLife International and ACAP agreed. However, the SACC agreed to a three-way split. They kept the white-capped albatross grouped with the shy albatross. The Clements taxonomy has not agreed to these splits yet.
Most experts now agree that this species belongs to the Thalassarche group. It used to be in the Diomedea group.
What Does It Look Like?
The white-capped albatross is about 90 to 99 centimeters (35 to 39 inches) long. Its wingspan can reach 220 to 256 centimeters (87 to 101 inches). It weighs between 3.4 and 4.4 kilograms (7.5 to 9.7 pounds).
It has a bright white cap on its head. This white cap stands out against its pale silver-gray face. It also has a darker brow. Some adult birds have a white back with brown tips on their feathers.
They have a dark gray back and a black tail. Most of the rest of their body is white. Their bill is light gray to blue with a yellow tip. Young albatrosses have a gray bill with a dark tip. Their heads are also darker, with gray feathers extending to their neck.
Where Do White-Capped Albatrosses Live?
| Location | Population | Date | Trend |
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| Disappointment Island | 72,000 pairs | 1993 | |
| Auckland Island | 3,000 pairs | ||
| Antipodes Island | 50—100 pairs | 1994 | |
| Adams Island | 100 pairs | ||
| Total | 150,000 | 1993 | Stable |
These birds are endemic to islands off the coast of New Zealand. This means they are found only in this area. In 2007, about 75,000 pairs were breeding there. The total number of birds was estimated to be 350,000 to 375,000.
Most pairs, about 72,000, live on Disappointment Island. Auckland Island has 3,000 pairs. Adams Island and Bollons Island each have about 100 pairs.
Young birds and those not breeding fly to other areas to find food. They are thought to search for food in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Scientists confirmed this with a DNA test of a bird found near South Georgia.
They also forage off the coast of southwestern Africa. Young birds may travel as far as the south Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Indian Ocean.
Behavior
What Do They Eat?
White-capped albatrosses usually feed on the surface of the water. They might also dive shallowly to catch food. Their diet includes fish, cephalopods (like squid), tunicates, and crustacea (like crabs and shrimp).
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The white-capped albatross breeds every year. They build their nests on rocks on small islands.
Protecting White-Capped Albatrosses
The IUCN lists this species as Near Threatened. This means they could become endangered in the future. Their total range covers about 77,700,000 square kilometers (30,000,000 square miles). Their breeding area is much smaller, about 22 square kilometers (8.5 square miles).
The biggest danger to these birds is longline fishing and trawl fisheries. Net monitor cables used to cause many deaths. However, these cables were stopped in 1992.
Too much squid fishing in Bass Strait might also be a problem. It could reduce the food available for the albatrosses. On Auckland Island, pigs caused a decrease in nesting from 1972 to 1982. Wild cats also catch a small number of chicks.
Since 2006, scientists have been tracking birds on Auckland Island. This tracking helps them learn more about the birds. It also helps in protecting them.
See also
- In Spanish: Albatros manto blanco para niños
