Indian Ocean Yellow-nosed Albatross

Thalassarche carteri is a small mollymawk increasingly recorded and breeding in the New Zealand region. It differs from Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross through genetics and subtle head and bill characters. Adults have a grey head, white crown and a black bill with a yellow upper ridge ending in a yellow tip. The underwings are white with narrow dark margins.

A small breeding presence has developed on New Zealand subantarctic islands, while most populations breed in the Indian Ocean. Birds forage widely across subtropical and temperate seas. They take squid, fish and crustaceans from the surface and shallow dives. Birds may associate with vessels and mixed seabird feeding groups.

The New Zealand classification is Coloniser. Pelagic trips from Kaikōura may encounter one, but identification requires care.