Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p46
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 46/98)
Character Range: 349565–352899

Note: Threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction are highlighted in bold.
Figure 2: Modelled Australian distribution of Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta).

Thalassarche chrysostoma Grey-headed Albatross (Forster 1785)
Family: Diomedeidae

Taxonomy

Thalassarche chrysostoma (Forster 1785) is accepted nomenclature for the Grey-headed Albatross. There has been significant taxonomic debate about the classification of Diomedeidae including, but not limited to, the introduction of the genus Thalassarche by Reichenbach (1852). Originally Diomedea chrysostoma Forster 1785. The Grey-headed Albatross was included in the resurrected genus Thalassarche (Reichenbach 1852) as Thalassarche chrysostoma based on demographic differences and genetic analyses (Nunn et al. 1996, Robertson & Nunn 1998) with the nomenclature widely accepted (ACAP 2012j).

Current status of taxon

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth): Endangered
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (Western Australia): Vulnerable
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (South Australia): Vulnerable
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Victoria): Endangered
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tasmania): Endangered
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (New South Wales): not listed
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland): Endangered
IUCN Red list of Threatened Species: Endangered
Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020: breeding population Endangered, population visiting Australia Endangered

Species description

A small-medium albatross, the Grey-headed Albatross is approximately 70-85 cm in length, 2.6-3.8 kg in weight, with a wing length of 50-55 cm, and bill length of 109-121 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a large, mostly black plated bill, with yellow upper and lower ridge that narrows at base of bill. Combination of dark, grey and white plumage, with grey head and white body, with white eye-patch, with dark upper wings and back, and tail, and leading edge of underwings and wing tips (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2018r).

Life history

Breeding locality                     Jurisdiction

Macquarie Island                      Australia

Islas Diego Ramirez, Islas Ildefonso  Chile

Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands     France

Campbell Island                       New Zealand

Prince Edward Islands                 South Africa

South Georgia/Islas Georgias del Sur  Other

There are 29 breeding sites for the Grey-headed Albatross that occur on island groups of Australia (Macquarie Island), Chile (Islas Diego Ramirez, Islas Ildefonso), France (Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands), New Zealand (Campbell Island), South Africa (Prince Edward Islands), and other (South Georgia/Islas Georgias del Sur) (ACAP 2012j). The Grey-headed Albatross is predominantly a biennial breeder, when successful (Ryan et al. 2007). Adults arrive at colonies from early September to early October (Weimerskirch et al. 1986, Brooke 2004, Terauds et al. 2005). Females lay a single egg in October that hatches after incubation period of 10 weeks in December (Weimerskirch et al. 1986, Terauds et al. 2005, DPIPWE 2021a). Fledging of chicks occurs after approximately 4-5 months in late April/May (Tickell & Pinder 1975, Weimerskirch et al. 1986, Terauds et al. 2005, DPIPWE