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Bullers Mollymawk

Thalassarche bulleri

Bullers are the smallest of the local "mollies" and the easiest identified. Their distinctive yellow and black beaks being very distinctive.

We see mainly the Southern variant here. The Southerns' most distinctive differences are a white patch at the lower rear of the eye, and a yellow strip on the cheek back from the hinge between upper and lower bill.

Southern Bullers nest on the Solander Islands to the west of Stewart Island and also the Snares some 60 miles to the south. Like the other mollies Bullers will avidly follow and feed around fish boats and are squabbly aggressive birds when feeding.

Size 750/800 mm

As an aside, the rest of the world refers to Mollymawks as Albatross... ie Bullers Albatross. Down here we have always known them all as "Mollymawks" or more casually... "Mollies"

Visually Albatross and Mollies are quite easily recognised when the upper wing is viewed in flight

Albatross

Molly

mollymawk/ˈmɒlɪmɔːk/

▶nounchiefly Austral./NZ an albatross.

from Dutch. mallemok, from mal ‘foolish’ + mok ‘gull’.


Bullers Molly Bullers are noisy squabbling birds, like all their cousins
Superb Soaring Birds. Honeydew is an important food source for many birds, but primarily bellbirds. Particularly in the winter when there is no blossom, and also in bad summer weather when nectar flows cease.
At rest. This was filmed alongside the village wharf. The bird had followed us in, no doubt hoping for a hand out.
Filmed on the Snares, by Natalie. Snares Island is around 60 miles south of Stewart Island, and an important breeding site. .