Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p82
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 82/98)
Character Range: 460333–463465

White-capped 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 Thalassarche cauta steadi Falla 1933. The White-capped Albatross was considered polytypic until it was included in the resurrected genus Thalassarche (Reichenbach 1852) at the specific level as Thalassarche salvini based on morphology and demographic differences, and genetic analyses (Robertson & Nunn 1998). ACAP has concluded on advice from its Taxonomy Working Group that available data warrant recognition of the White-capped Albatross at the specific level with the nomenclature generally accepted (Double 2006, ACAP 2012x).

Current status of taxon

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

Species description

A medium albatross, the White-capped Albatross is approximately 90 cm in length, 3.3-4.4 kg in weight, with a wing length of 56-63 cm, and bill length of 126-141 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a large, pale grey plated bill with yellow tip. Combination of black, grey and white plumage, white head with pale grey sides and dark eyebrow, white body with black upper wings, black margins and a dark tab intruding into the base of the underwings, and grey-black tail (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2018w).

Life history

Breeding locality                     Jurisdiction

Auckland Islands, Antipodes Islands   New Zealand

Endemic to New Zealand with five breeding sites on the Auckland Islands, and Antipodes Islands (ACAP 2012x). The breeding cycle for the White-capped Albatross has not been fully described. The species exhibits an intermediate breeding strategy, with 63% breeding in one year, and 78% of failed breeders breeding in the next year (Francis 2012). Adults may be present at colonies year-round, with females laying a single egg in mid-November to mid-December that hatches after 9-10 weeks in mid-January to mid-February (Sagar 2017). Fledging of chicks occurs after approximately four months in June (Thompson et al. 2009). White-capped Albatross disperses in the higher latitudes of the southern hemisphere. It is not known when juveniles first return to colonies or when they begin breeding (ACAP 2012x). Generation length is estimated at 19.2 years (Bird et al. 2020).

Species distribution in Australia

Australia is within the foraging range of the White-capped Albatross (Figure 18). Tracking studies indicate that dispersal from the breeding colonies is