Shy Mollymawk
Shy MollymawkShy MollymawkShy MollymawkShy Mollymawk

Shy Mollymawk

Thalassarche cauta

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Royal National Park
6 Verified records at Royal National Park
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Shy Mollymawk sighting in Royal National Park, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Royal National Park

Black-browed Albatross
LC

Black-browed Albatross

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalassarche melanophris

<5% · Rare
Buller's Mollymawk
NT

Buller's Mollymawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalassarche bulleri

Insufficient data
Antipodean Albatross
EN

Antipodean Albatross

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Diomedea antipodensis

Insufficient data
Southern Giant Petrel
LC

Southern Giant Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronectes giganteus

Insufficient data
Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Puffinus pacificus

<5% · Rare
Short-tailed Shearwater

Short-tailed Shearwater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Puffinus tenuirostris

<5% · Rare
Fluttering Shearwater
LC

Fluttering Shearwater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Puffinus gavia

<5% · Rare
Northern Giant Petrel
LC

Northern Giant Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronectes halli

<5% · Rare
Fairy Prion
LC

Fairy Prion

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pachyptila turtur

Insufficient data
Hutton's Shearwater
EN

Hutton's Shearwater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Puffinus huttoni

Insufficient data
White-necked Petrel
VU

White-necked Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pterodroma cervicalis

Insufficient data
Flesh-footed Shearwater

Flesh-footed Shearwater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Puffinus carneipes

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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
30–40%
2 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
3 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
4 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
5–10%
5 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
6 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
7 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
8 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
9 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data
10 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
11 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Shy Mollymawk in Royal National Park?

About 0% of wildlife watchers report a Shy Mollymawk sighting in Royal National Park, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Shy Mollymawk in Royal National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Shy Mollymawk in Royal National Park in our monthly data.

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