Shy Albatross vs Wandering Albatross
Thalassarche cauta compared with Diomedea exulans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Shy Albatross | Wandering Albatross |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Thalassarche cauta | Diomedea exulans |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae | Diomedeidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | 117.0 cm (46.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 113.2 cm (44.6 in) | 320.0 cm (126.0 in) |
| Weight | 4150.0 g (146.39 oz) | 9000.0 g (317.47 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Squid, fish, and crustaceans caught from the ocean surface, often at night. Follows fishing vessels … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Wandering Albatross
Open ocean of the Southern Hemisphere. Breeds on remote sub-Antarctic islands. Spends years at sea between breeding attempts.
Song & Call Comparison
Shy Albatross
Wandering Albatross
At nesting colonies emits a loud braying 'waaah' and guttural grunts. Silent at sea for most of the year. Courtship involves ritualized mutual bill-clapping and moaning calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Shy Albatross
Wandering Albatross
Southern Ocean circumpolar, breeding on South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, and other sub-Antarctic islands.
Conservation Status
Shy Albatross
Wandering Albatross
How to Tell Them Apart
Shy Albatross
Wandering Albatross
Adults are mostly white with black trailing edges to the wings. Juveniles are chocolate brown, whitening progressively over 5-10 years. Pink bill and pale feet.
Very large pink bill with a hooked tip and visible tubular nostrils
About These Birds
Shy Albatross
Shy Albatross, 90–99 cm, wingspan 220–256 cm, is the largest mollymawk, breeding only on three Tasmanian islands. White body, grey back, narrow black-and-yellow bill. Near Threatened; the most common albatross in Australian waters; affected by longline bycatch and periodic poor breeding seasons.
Wandering Albatross
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, reaching up to 3.5 meters. These oceanic nomads can circumnavigate the globe, covering over 120,000 km per year using dynamic soaring with minimal wing flapping. Pairs mate for life and may live over 60 years.