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ageing peter ryan shy Shy Albatrosses are usually the albatrosses most frequently encountered on pelagic trips off the south-western Cape. Scilly seabird fundiB ob Flood and Peter Ryan look at Shy Albatrosses from a southern African perspective and describe how the can be aged up to five or six years old based on a combination of primary moult and wear, plumage and bill colour. >

january/february 2016 shy 49 The largest of the molly- Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands mawks, the Shy Albatross Thalas- (almost all at the Auckland Islands, sarche cauta was split from Salvin’s with a few pairs on the Antipodes Albatross T. salvini and Chatham and Chatham islands). Albatross T. eremita in the 1990s The Tasmanian Shy is on average based on consistent genetic and slightly smaller than the Auckland morphological differences. Shy and adults tend to have more Shy Albatrosses breed in Aus- yellow on the base and cutting edge tralia and New Zealand. The Tas- of the upper mandible. However, manian Shy Albatross T. [c.] cauta their genetic difference is minor breeds from September to April on and most authorities regard them three islets off Tasmania, whereas as subspecies. The New Zealand the White-capped or Auckland form is far more abundant, with Shy Albatross T. [c.] steadi breeds an annual breeding population of from November to July on New close to 100 000 pairs, compared ROHAN CLARKE to some 12 500 pairs in Tasmania, above An adult T where numbers are recovering Shy Albatross from past exploitation. Both taxa showing the reach southern Africa, but genetic fledgling yellow base of 2.5 year old studies show that Tasmanian the upper man- comprise only six per cent of birds dible typical of 3.5 year old killed on long-lines off South Af- the Tasmanian rica. This suggests that New Zea- population (off land birds are about twice as likely Victoria, Aus­ as their Australian cousins to travel tralia, 8 Novem- west from their natal islands into ber 2009). the south-western Indian and peter ryan South Atlantic oceans. immatures synchronise the timing worn juvenile feathers remaining off South Africa moulting mainly Third-cycle Shy Alba- right John Shy Albatrosses are found year of their moult cycles with adults; into at least the fourth cycle. This from December to June. tross about 2.5 years Gale’s artwork round in shelf waters off southern before that they follow an annual results in an irregular trailing old, with fresh outer captures the pro- Africa, ranging further north in cycle only approximately. edge to the inner wing, notably in Ageing primaries that con- gression of Shy winter, and also occur at low den- The first moult cycle involves a fourth-cycle birds. Primary moult and wear, head and trast with old, heav- Albatross plum- 1 year old sities in oceanic waters south to at complete moult in the nest, pro- neck plumage and bill colour age ily abraded juvenile ages in flight least 47°S. Off the Western Cape, ducing juvenile plumage. Timing of moult individuals up to five or six years middle primaries. The from fledglings adult phase 2 adults comprise 10–15 per cent Thesecond and subsequent cycles Moult in the Shy Albatrosses is old (see plates). When describing yellowish bill tip with to adults. Note of the population in summer and involve moult of head, body and poorly known. We analysed about albatross plumages, it is conven- large dark marks is especially the 30–40 per cent in winter. Juve- tail feathers. 400 photographs of birds taken tional to age birds from the date typical of a young pattern of wear niles in fresh plumage, with their The third and subsequent cycles off South Africa and elsewhere, as that they fledge: May for T. [c.] immature (off Cape 4.5 year old in the outer pri- smoky grey hoods, arrive each involve wing moult. well as data from cauta and August for T. [c.] steadi. Town, 30 December maries (see text year in the Cape in late winter The pattern of outer primary 584 birds killed on long-lines off 2008). for details). (August), often sparking debate wear is key to ageing. The third, southern Africa (data analysis First cycle about possible Salvin’s Albatross- fifth and seventh moults include to be published). As expected, Moult/wear Juveniles fledge with previous page es. For most of the year, though, the renewal of P8–P10 (where P10 breeding adults moult mainly in evenly fresh plumage, although Juvenile Shy we tend to pay little heed to their is the outermost primary), but not the non-breeding season, which some feathers may show wear from Albatross show- plumage development or state of P5–P7, which are replaced in the off South Africa is chiefly August the nest. There may be limited ing uniformly moult. Yet changes in plumage fourth and sixth moults. This pat- to October/November (range head and body moult subsequent- fresh plumage adult and bill coloration, moult and tern of middle and outer primary April to December). Adult T. [c.] ly, but in the first nine months after within two phase 1 wear can be used to age birds up moult continues into adulthood. cauta breed earlier and probably fledging virtually all feathers are months of 4 years and to five or six years old. Hence, from the third moult on- moult earlier than New Zealand of the same generation. The grey fledging (off 6 months old 2 months old wards moult contrast is evident birds; five individuals photo- upperside feathers slowly bleach Cape Town, Moult between P5–P7 and P8–P10. There graphed off were in ac- browner with age and lack moult 20 September Shy Albatrosses moult in cycles. are exceptions, but the general pat- tive primary moult during April to contrast. Head & neck Variably 2005). The adults normally follow an an- tern mainly stands up. June. Immatures, and presumably smudged mid-grey on the head nual cycle, related to their breed- Secondary moult is complex non-breeding adults and failed and dark grey on the neck. The ing activity, whereas it’s probably and even more protracted than breeders, moult earlier than suc- head feathers quickly fade, leav- only by about the fifth cycle that primary moult, with some heavily cessful breeders, with immatures ing a whitish chin, face, forehead > JOHN GALE

50 african birdlife january/february 2016 shy albatross 51 and crown, a mid-grey hindneck older than the middle primaries juvenile middle primaries P5–P7. shawl and a more or less complete and this incorrectly ages the Secondaries are all or mostly ju- neck collar. Dark grey triangular as older than second cycle, but venile, worn and bleached. Head eye patches nearly reach the bill, there is no abrupt change in wear & neck Paler than second-cycle standing out when the head fades across the primaries. Head & neck birds, usually with an incomplete to whitish. Bill Mid-grey with a Similar to old first-cycle birds neck collar and a whitish lower blackish tip, which may develop a though variably greyish when hindneck. Triangular eye patches hint of pale on the hook. Narrow fresh, with a mid-grey hindneck are better developed and stand dark line down the base of the low- shawl and a neck collar (narrow out on the whitish head. Bill Light er mandible. or broken at centre). Triangular to mid-grey with a dirty yellowish eye patches prominent on the tip and large dark marks on both Second cycle whitish head. Bill Similar to first- mandibles. Narrow dark or yel- Moult/wear Head, body and, at cycle birds, but the bill tip often lowish line down the base of the least in some birds, tail moult develops a paler hook. lower mandible. should be evident by 12 months after fledging. The juvenile upper- Third cycle Fourth cycle wings bleach browner with age Moult/wear The first moult of Moult/wear First moult of P5–P7 and contrast with the fresh mid- outer primaries P8–P10 probably occurs towards the end of the grey back feathers. In the second- takes place 16–20 months after third year since fledging, giving cycle juvenile outer primaries fledging, during December–May moderate contrast with third- often become badly frayed. They in T. [c.] steadi and earlier in T. [c.] cycle P8–P10. Many heavily worn might be taken as a generation cauta, giving strong contrast with juvenile secondaries give an ir- regular trailing edge to the inner wing. Head & neck May retain an fledgling incomplete neck collar, though 1 year old some show first real signs of the adult-like head pattern. Triangu- lar eye patches further developed. Bill Light grey with a dirty yellow- ish tip still retaining dark marks on both upper and lower man- dibles. Narrow orange line down the base of the lower mandible.

john graham 3.5 year old Fifth cycle 2.5 year old Moult/wear Timing of primary neck Adult-like, but perhaps not non-breeders, have on average REFERENCES Fourth-cycle Shy moult probably synchronised as clean and fresh. Bill Adult-like, a yellower bill, with yellow basal Bugoni, L. & Furness, R.W. 2009. Albatross about with adults and includes P8–P10, but often with a smallish dusky third of culminicorn (reaching Ageing immature Atlantic Yellow- 3.5 years after fledg- Ageing birds sitting giving moderate contrast with mark on the lower mandible. nostrils), and yellow cutting edge nosed Thalassarche chlororhynchos ing; fresh middle on the water is more fourth-cycle P5–P7. A few heavily to the upper mandible. A dusky and Black-browed T. melanophris primaries contrast difficult than birds in worn juvenile secondaries may be Seventh (first adult) cycle mark on the lower mandible may albatrosses in wintering grounds us- with worn outer flight. Fledglings have retained. Head & neck Adult-like Moult/wear Primary moult in- be present into adulthood. ing bill colour and moult. Marine primaries. The head evenly fresh plumage, 4.5 year old head pattern, gaining a silky look, cludes P8–P10 mainly during Southern Africa is truly for- Ornithology 37: 249–252. is adult-like, but the whereas second-cycle though not pristine like an adult. the three to four months after the tunate to have productive feed- Howell, S.N.G. 2012. Petrels, Alba- bill shows vestiges of one-year-olds have Larger triangular eye patches. breeding season, giving moderate ing grounds for albatrosses and trosses & Storm-petrels of North immaturity (off Cape adult steadi fresh grey body feath- Bill Light grey tinged greenish- contrast with sixth-cycle P5–P7. petrels within the reach of short- America. Princeton University Town, 4 December ers that contrast with yellow. Tip yellowish with a small Head & neck Soft and silky, light range pelagic trips, and on such Press, Princeton and Oxford. 2010). the paler brown juve- dark mark on the lower mandi- grey with white chin, forehead trips it is the Shy Albatrosses Prince, P.A. & Rodwell, S. 1994. Age- nile wing feathers. The ble. Narrow orange line down the and crown. Soft dark triangular that are the most frequently en- ing immature Black-browed and juvenile’s mid-grey bill 5.5 year old base of the lower mandible. eyepatches nearly reach the bill, countered . While Grey-headed Albatrosses using progressively becomes giving Shy’s distinctive capped fresh-looking juveniles and smart moult, bill and plumage character- light greenish, and Sixth cycle appearance and stern look. Bill adults are usually the focus of istics. Emu 94: 246–254. the blackish bill tip adult cauta Moult/wear Timing of primary Light greenish-grey with a yel- binoculars and cameras, the new Prince, P.A., Rodwell, S., Jones, M. & gradually loses the moult is as for adults and includes low tip and an orange line at ageing criteria given in this article Rothery, P. 1993. Moult in Black- adult steadi dark markings and P5–P7, giving moderate contrast the base of the lower mandible. should make worn and moulting browed and Grey-headed Alba- becomes yellow. with fifth-cycle P8–P10. Head & T. [c.] cauta breeders, and possibly immature birds of equal interest. trosses. Ibis 13: 121–131. JOHN GALE

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