Head to head
Salvin's Albatross vs Shy Albatross
Salvin's Albatross
VS Shy Albatross
Both are mollymawk albatrosses facing real conservation pressure, but one is larger and more geographically confined than the other.
| Salvin's Albatross | Shy Albatross | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Thalassarche salvini | Thalassarche cauta |
| Size | Smaller than the shy albatross | The largest mollymawk species |
| Breeding range | Bounty and Snares Islands, plus Crozet Islands | Three islands off Tasmania only |
| Geographic distinction | Most of its population on a handful of sites | The only albatross breeding solely in Australian territory |
| Head colour | A distinctive pale grey head | Not distinctively coloured |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Near Threatened |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Stable |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean, coastal |
Salvin's Albatross vs Shy Albatross: common questions
Which one is the larger bird?
The shy albatross is the larger of the two, holding the record as the largest of all the mollymawk albatrosses, noticeably bigger than Salvin's albatross.
Which one has a more stable population?
The shy albatross has the more stable population, classified as Near Threatened, while Salvin's albatross remains Vulnerable with a population that continues to decline.
Which one breeds across more island groups?
Salvin's albatross breeds across more locations, nesting mainly on the Bounty and Snares Islands with a smaller population on the Crozet Islands, unlike the shy albatross, confined to just three Tasmanian islands.