---
title: "First record of an Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross visiting Gough Island in the South Atlantic"
---

# First record of an Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross visiting Gough Island in the South Atlantic

An Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross *Thalassarchi carteri*was photographed ashore after first being seen in fllght on [Gough Island](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1322-acap-breeding-sites-no-11-gough-island-south-atlantic-hanging-on-against-the-onslaught-of-its-killer-mice?highlight=WyJ0cmlzdGFuIiwidHJpc3RhbidzIiwiJ3RyaXN0YW4nLCIsImRhIiwiY3VuaGEiLCJjdW5oYSdzIiwiY3VuaGEnIiwiY3VuaGEnLCIsIm5vIiwiJ25vIiwidHJpc3RhbiBkYSIsInRyaXN0YW4gZGEgY3VuaGEiLCJkYSBjdW5oYSJd) in the South Atlantic on 17 January this year, resting among breeding Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses *T. chlororhynchos -*from which it was distinguished by its paler head, as well as by other diagnostic features*.* This is the first record of the [globally Endangered](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/indian-yellow-nosed-albatross-thalassarche-carteri) species for Gough, far from its breeding grounds on French and South African sub-Antarctic islands in the southern Indian Ocean ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/14-news/acap-latest-news/3131-breeding-site-vagrancy-in-albatrosses-can-lead-to-hybrid-young?highlight=WyJwaGlsbGlwcyIsImNvb3BlciIsImliaXMiXQ==)).

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/I/Indian_Yellow_nosed/IYNA.2-Gough-Chris-Jones.jpg)

 The vagrant Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross ashore on Gough Island, 17 January 2019; despite efforts to resight and band, it has not been seen again

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/I/Indian_Yellow_nosed/IYNA-Gough-Chris-Jones.jpg)

 The vagrant Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross with its paler head is on the right, next to an Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross. On landing it engaged in bill fencing with an Atlantic Yellow-nosed but no other displays were noted

 Photographs by Christopher Jones

 A recent review of breeding-site vagrancy in albatrosses did not include any records for the Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross.  Fledglings from South Africa’s [Prince Edward Island](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1366-acap-breeding-sites-no-26-prince-edward-south-africa-s-alien-mammal-free-sub-antarctic-island?highlight=WyJwcmluY2UiLCJwcmluY2UncyIsImVkd2FyZCIsImVkd2FyZCdzIiwibm8iLCInbm8iLCJwcmluY2UgZWR3YXJkIl0=) (and at least two adults) have been occasionally seen ashore away from albatross colonies on nearby [Marion Island](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1371-acap-breeding-sites-no-27-sub-antarctic-marion-island-a-research-laboratory-for-albatrosses-and-petrels?highlight=WyJwcmluY2UiLCJwcmluY2UncyIsImVkd2FyZCIsImVkd2FyZCdzIiwibm8iLCInbm8iLCJwcmluY2UgZWR3YXJkIl0=), where they do not breed ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/23-news-archive-section/2010-news-archive/523-indian-yellow-nosed-albatrosses-ashore-at-south-africas-marion-island?highlight=WyJ2YWdyYW50Il0=)).  The 2007 Tristan-Gough field guide lists the species only as a “possible vagrant”.  However, more recently it has been reported that Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses have “been spotted around [Tristan da Cunha](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1421-acap-breeding-sites-no-34-the-main-island-of-tristan-da-cunha-inhabited-by-both-albatrosses-and-islanders?highlight=WyJ0cmlzdGFuIiwidHJpc3RhbidzIiwiJ3RyaXN0YW4nLCIsImRhIiwiY3VuaGEiLCJjdW5oYSdzIiwiY3VuaGEnIiwiY3VuaGEnLCIsIm5vIiwiJ25vIiwidHJpc3RhbiBkYSIsInRyaXN0YW4gZGEgY3VuaGEiLCJkYSBjdW5oYSJd) at sea” ([click here](http://www.tristandc.com/news-2019-01-20-1stIndianynaGough.php))

 Read more [here](https://www.goughisland.com/blog/indian-yellow-nosed-albatross-a-first-for-gough-island?fbclid=IwAR0e0LA_u738YyOk-_7z8nsnv5EUQo92jkBc_O9LfHnffJ6940de-Jo2Vrc).

 With thanks to Chris Jones and Michelle Risi for information and use of photographs.

 **References:**

 Phillips, R.A., Cooper, J. & Burg, T.M. 2018.  Breeding‐site vagrancy and hybridization in albatross.  [*Ibis* 160: 907-913](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ibi.12622).

 Ryan, P.G. (Ed.). 2007.  *Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island*.  Newbury: Pisces Publications.  162 pp.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 11 February 2019, updated 13 February 2019*