Albatross id - Salvin's or Chatham

["Andrew Stafford" <>]

Hi Brent,

I'm confident the bird is a Salvin's Albatross. The bill does look bright in
the photo but the head is simply not dark enough and the bill not
yellow/orange enough for a Chatham Island 'tross (eremita). The obvious pale
cap especially I think is enough to conclusively rule out the latter. I've
seen Chatham Albatross off Wollongong on a very dark and dirty day and the
contrast between bill and head pattern stood out from a considerable
distance. I don't think you'd have mistaken one in the field.

Good photos though

Cheers, AS


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