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There are 11 species of albatross reported on eBird in Australian waters. The total number of albatross species has been debated for over a hundred years and largely depends on where you live and which taxonomy you refer to. It is agreed, however, that most species call the southern oceans their home and are regularly seen around the country depending on where either pelagic trips depart or other vessels report them. Pelagic opportunities are available in cities all around the country.
In Australia we split albatross species into 3 classes within the Diomedeidae family.
Great Albatross - the largest of all the species
Sooty Albatross - a dark coloured species
Mollymawk - smaller species with dark backs and white bodies
The Great Albatross
Right is the New Zealand Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans gibsoni). It can be found in southern and eastern parts of Australian waters and is the most commonly seen Great Albatross seen there. It is smaller than the Wandering Albatross but on the water it would be difficult to distinguish them. The other member of the Great Albatross clan is the Royal Albatross.
The Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) is the first of the 2 'Royals'. These birds are most easily identified by the black line along the bill. The northern also has dark wings all the way to the edge. They tend to be quite aloof and stay distant to boats.
In Australia, this species is seen off the south east coast only.
The Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) is very similar to the northern species but is seen further west around the south coast of Australia. As you can see in the photo above left, they have a white edge along the back of the dark wing. This feature alone makes them easy to distinguish from northerns. They also have the black line on the bill and that helps separate them from the wandering varieties.
Mollymawk Albatross
Mollymawks are smaller albatross and the name is interchangeable with 'albatross'. They are called either, depending on where you are, who you are talking to and which taxonomy you are reading. There are several species of Mollymawk seen in Australia. Here are some of them.
The White-capped Mollymawk (Thalassarche cauta) has the characteristic black all across the back. The white cap is usually distinctive enough to identify the bird but it also has a yellow tip to the bill unlike other birds. It has been reported around the southern half of Australian waters.
The Salvin's Mollymawk (Thalassarche salvini) is an uncommon visitor to Australian southern waters. It has a grey head and often an orange line at the base of the bill.
The Black-browed Mollymawk (Thalassarche melanophris) above is the most striking of the smaller albatross with a severe eye brow which makes it easy to spot. It can be found across the southern seas of Australia.
A sub-species of the Black-browed is the Campbell's Mollymawk (Thalassarche impavida), pictured right. It has the same dark brow but as if to make it even more startling, the eye itself is pale.
The Buller's Mollymawk (Thalassarche bulleri) is one of the most striking of the small albatross with a yellow-lined dark bill. It is only found in south eastern waters.
Seen in the southern waters, the Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche carteri) is an elegant albatross with a distinctive yellow stripe along the top of the pink-tipped bill. It is less common than other small albatross.
The Sooty Albatross include the Sooty Albatross itself as well the Lightly-mantled Albatross, neither of which I have seen. However, unseen birds are just a good reason to go on another trip!
As you can tell from the maps above, the best places to get a pelagic from are in the south and east. I have been on one from Sydney and it is a very long day but well worth it. Tasmania also has very successful trips into the ocean.
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