Subject: Re: Heceta Banks, Oregon, pelagic results
Date: Oct 8 09:04:06 1996
From: Alvaro Jaramillo - alvaro at quake.net



> *"Laysan" Albatross: The identity of this bird is in question. There
> is no doubt that it was't a black-footed albatross. Believe it or not
> several of us are considering whether the bird could have been a
> WHITE-CAPPED (SHY) ALBATROSS. While there would have been no question
> for those more familiar with these species (or if we could see it
> again, now), most of the passengers on the boat were not prepared to
> consider any species other than Laysan. The discussion at sea centered
> on the extensively bright white underwings with a fairly narrow dark
> outline and lack of internal dark markings. Several folks took photos
> of the bird, so we should find out soon whether we saw a Laysan
> albatross or whether we saw something more unusual than most of us
> imagined. I think we may be pleasantly surprised. Either way, we will
> have learned a lot about albatrosses in the discussion. More later.
>

One feature that separates the Laysan from the southern hemisphere
"Mollymawks", apart from the underwing pattern, is that the laysan has a
largely dark rump, while the others have a white rump. The southern
hemisphere Mollymawk that resembles the Laysan most closely is the
Black-browed Albatross, a White-capped should show some grey or dusky on the
head.

Al.

Alvaro Jaramillo Where there's smoke doesn't mean
Half Moon Bay, CA there is fire.
alvaro at quake.net Just means there's smoke.


http://www.quake.net/~alvaro/index.html