Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Shy Albatross
Thalassarche cauta
Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) is a member of the Diomedeidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 3.9 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Diomedeidae Albatrosses
- Genus Thalassarche
- Species cauta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.9 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Diomedeidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Shy Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
It is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water, and is well suited to a life on and around water.
Migration
The Shy Albatross is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) is a member of the Diomedeidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO Tasmania and Auckland Is. (s of South I., New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.9 kg, with a wing length of about 56.9 cm and a tail of around 21.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 23.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Shy Albatross?
The Shy Albatross is a very large bird that weighs around 3.9 kg.
Where does the Shy Albatross live?
The Shy Albatross is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO Tasmania and Auckland Is. (s of South I., New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Shy Albatross belong to?
The Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) belongs to the Diomedeidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Shy Albatross eat?
The Shy Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Shy Albatross migrate?
The Shy Albatross is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Shy Albatross endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Shy Albatross make?
1 real field recording of the Shy Albatross — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Shy Albatross's range?
The Shy Albatross has a mapped global range of about 23.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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