Shy Mollymawk
Shy MollymawkShy MollymawkShy MollymawkShy Mollymawk

Shy Mollymawk

Thalassarche cauta

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Great Otway National Park
215 Verified records at Great Otway National Park
October 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 →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Shy Mollymawk sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 215 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Great Otway National Park

Buller's Mollymawk
NT

Buller's Mollymawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalassarche bulleri

Insufficient data
Black-browed Albatross
LC

Black-browed Albatross

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalassarche melanophris

<5% · Rare
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
EN

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalassarche carteri

<5% · Rare
Short-tailed Shearwater

Short-tailed Shearwater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Puffinus tenuirostris

<5% · Rare
Common Diving-Petrel
LC

Common Diving-Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanoides urinatrix

Insufficient data
Southern Fulmar
LC

Southern Fulmar

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fulmarus glacialoides

Insufficient data
Fluttering Shearwater
LC

Fluttering Shearwater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Puffinus gavia

<5% · Rare
Southern Giant Petrel
LC

Southern Giant Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronectes giganteus

Insufficient data
White-faced Storm Petrel
LC

White-faced Storm Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelagodroma marina

Insufficient data
Northern Giant Petrel
LC

Northern Giant Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronectes halli

Insufficient data
Fairy Prion
LC

Fairy Prion

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pachyptila turtur

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
5–10
May
10–20
Jun
20–30
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
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 Great Otway National Park?

About 8% of wildlife watchers report a Shy Mollymawk sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 215 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

October has the highest sighting rate for Shy Mollymawk in Great Otway National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Great Otway National Park