Head to head
Buller's Albatross vs Salvin's Albatross
Buller's Albatross
VS Salvin's Albatross
Both mollymawks share overlapping breeding grounds off New Zealand, but their population trends and physical features set them apart.
| Buller's Albatross | Salvin's Albatross | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Thalassarche bulleri | Thalassarche salvini |
| Bill | A distinctive two-toned black-and-yellow bill | Not distinctively two-toned |
| Head pattern | Pale grey with a darker cap | A plainer pale grey head |
| Breeding range | Chatham, Solander, and Snares Islands | Bounty and Snares Islands, plus Crozet Islands |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened | Vulnerable |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Eye colour | Not distinctively pale | A pale silvery-grey iris |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
Buller's Albatross vs Salvin's Albatross: common questions
Which one has a more stable population?
Buller's albatross has the more stable population, a rare piece of good news among mollymawk species, while Salvin's albatross continues to decline and remains classified as Vulnerable.
Which one has a distinctive two-toned bill?
Buller's albatross has this feature, a bill marked with black and yellow tones, unlike Salvin's albatross, which has a plainer bill without the same contrasting pattern.
Do both breed on the Snares Islands?
Yes, both species breed on the Snares Islands off New Zealand, though Buller's albatross also nests on the Chatham and Solander Islands while Salvin's albatross instead extends to the Bounty and Crozet Islands.