From Opus

Alternative name: Salvin's Mollymawk; Grey-backed Albatross

Thalassarche salvini

Diomedea salvini

Photo by mjobling
off Kaikoura, New Zealand, February 2007

[edit] Identification

• Grey head, mantle and back
• Dark grey to black back, upperwing and tail
• White rump and underside

Light grey legs, feet

• Grey beak
  • Pale yellow upper ridge to the upper mandible
  • Dark spot at the tip of the lower bill

[edit] Distribution

The Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean and the Bounty Islands and The Snares to the south of New Zealand.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] 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). Often considered conspecific with Shy Albatross.

[edit] Habitat

Barren and rocky islands, and otherwise the open oceans.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

One egg is laid in early October and is incubated by both parents until early November. After a further 4 months, the chick fledges.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes fish and squid.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view

• List of references

[edit] External Links