Shy Mollymawk
Thalassarche cauta
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderProcellariiformes (Tubenoses)
- FamilyDiomedeidae (Albatrosses)
- GenusThalassarche (Mollymawks)
- SpeciesThalassarche cauta (Shy Mollymawk)
The shy albatross (Thalassarche cauta), also known as the shy mollymawk, is a medium-sized albatross that breeds on three remote islands off the coast of Tasmania, Australia, in the southern Indian Ocean. Its lifespan is about 60 years, and it has been seen as far afield as South Africa and the Pacific coast of the United States. As of June 2020, the species is listed as "Endangered" in Australia; there are thought to be 15,000 pairs of shy albatross left. It is Australia's only endemic albatross. Some authorities call this species the white-capped albatross, but that name is more commonly applied to Thalassarche cauta steadi. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Maria Island National Park
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Shy Mollymawk at Maria Island National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 6 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 8 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 10 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |