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Wandering Albatross

Diomedea exulans

Known for its majestic wingspan and far-ranging travels, the Wandering Albatross is a captivating presence in the Southern Ocean's expanse. As the bird with the widest wingspan globally, this remarkable creature glides effortlessly across vast oceanic distances, its brilliant white plumage and solitary habits making it a unique symbol of the wild, open sea.

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Appearance and Identification

Vocalization and sounds, behavior and social structure, distribution and habitat, lifespan and life cycle, conservation status, similar birds.

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Color

Primary color (juvenile), secondary colors.

Black, Grey

Secondary Colors (female)

Secondary colors (juvenile).

White, Grey

Secondary Colors (seasonal)

Wing color (juvenile).

Large, Hooked

Beak Color (juvenile)

Leg color (juvenile), distinctive markings.

Black wings, white tail, large pink beak

Distinctive Markings (juvenile)

Darker than adults, brown beak

Tail Description

White with black edges

Tail Description (juvenile)

Brown with white edges

Size Metrics

107cm to 135cm

250cm to 350cm

6.72kg to 12kg

Click on an image below to see the full-size version

Pair of Wandering Albatrosses

Juvenile Wandering Albatross

Wandering Albatross resting on the sea

Wandering Albatross in-flight over the ocean

Wandering Albatross at nest with downy chick

Primary Calls

Series of grunts and whistles

Call Description

Most vocal on breeding grounds, otherwise silent

Alarm Calls

Loud, harsh squawks

Daily Activities

Active during day, rests on water surface at night

Social Habits

Solitary at sea, social on breeding grounds

Territorial Behavior

Defends nest site during breeding season

Migratory Patterns

Non-migratory but wanders widely at sea

Interaction with Other Species

Occasionally forms loose flocks at sea

Primary Diet

Fish, Squid

Feeding Habits

Surface seizes and scavenges

Feeding Times

Day and night

Prey Capture Method

Plunge-diving, surface-seizing

Diet Variations

May eat carrion

Special Dietary Needs (if any)

Nesting location.

On ground on isolated islands

Nest Construction

Mound of mud and vegetation

Breeding Season

Every other year

Number of clutches (per breeding season)

Once every two years

Egg Appearance

White, oval

Clutch Characteristics

Incubation period.

Around 80 days

Fledgling Period

Approximately 9 months

Parental Care

Both parents incubate and feed chick

Geographic Range

Circumpolar in Southern Ocean

Habitat Description

Open ocean, breeds on remote islands

Elevation Range

Migration patterns, climate zones.

Polar, Temperate

Distribution Map

Please note, this range and distribution map is a high-level overview, and doesn't break down into specific regions and areas of the countries.

Non-breeding

Lifespan range (years)

Average lifespan, maturity age.

7-10 year(s)

Breeding Age

Reproductive behavior.

Monogamous, long-term pair bonds

Age-Related Changes

Younger birds are darker, gain white plumage with age

Current Status

Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Major Threats

Longline fishing, plastic ingestion, climate change

Conservation Efforts

Protected under international law, conservation programs on breeding islands

Population Trend

Slow but steady population decrease due to threats

Royal Albatross

Diomedea epomophora

Classification

Other names:

Snowy Albatross, White-winged Albatross

Population size:

Population trend:

Conservation status:

IUCN Red List

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Diomedea exulans wandering albatross

Geographic Range

Wandering albatrosses are found almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, although occasional sightings just north of the Equator have been reported. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 )

There is some disagreement over how many subspecies of wandering albatross ( Diomedea exulans ) there are, and whether they should be considered separate species. Most subspecies of Diomedea exulans are difficult to tell apart, especially as juveniles, but DNA analyses have shown that significant differences exist. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 )

Diomedea exulans exulans breeds on South Georgia, Prince Edward, Marion, Crozet, Kerguelen, and Macquarie islands. Diomedea exulans dabbenena occurs on Gough and Inaccessible islands, ranging over the Atlantic Ocean to western coastal Africa. Diomedea exulans antipodensis is found primarily on the Antipodes of New Zealand, and ranges at sea from Chile to eastern Australia. Diomedea exulans amsterdamensis is found only on Amsterdam Island and the surrounding seas. Other subspecies names that have become obsolete include Diomedea exulans gibsoni , now commonly considered part of D. e. antipodensis , and Diomedea exulans chionoptera , considered part of D. e. exulans . ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 )

• Biogeographic Regions

Wandering albatrosses breed on several subantarctic islands, which are characterized by peat soils, tussock grass, sedges, mosses, and shrubs. Wandering albatrosses nest in sheltered areas on plateaus, ridges, plains, or valleys.

Outside of the breeding season, wandering albatrosses are found only in the open ocean, where food is abundant. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 )

• Habitat Regions
• terrestrial
• saltwater or marine
• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland
• Aquatic Biomes

Physical Description

All subspecies of wandering albatrosses have extremely long wingspans (averaging just over 3 meters), white underwing coverts, and pink bills. Adult body plumage ranges from pure white to dark brown, and the wings range from being entirely blackish to a combination of black with white coverts and scapulars. They are distinguished from the closely related royal albatross by their white eyelids, pink bill color, lack of black on the maxilla, and head and body shape. On average, males have longer bills, tarsi, tails, and wings than females. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

Juveniles of all subspecies are very much alike; they have chocolate-brown plumage with a white face and black wings. As individuals age, most become progressively whiter with each molt, starting with the back. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

D. e. exulans averages larger than other recognized subspecies, and is the only taxon that achieves fully white body plumage, and this only in males. Although females do not become pure white, they can still be distinguished from other subspecies by color alone. Adults also have mostly white coverts, with black only on the primaries and secondaries. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

Adults of D. e. amsterdamensis have dark brown plumage with white faces and black crowns, and are distinguished from juveniles by their white bellies and throats. In addition to their black tails, they also have a black stripe along the cutting edge of the maxilla, a character otherwise found in D. epomophora but not other forms of D. exulans . Males and females are similar in plumage. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

Adults of D. e. antipodensis display sexual dimorphism in plumage, with older males appearing white with some brown splotching, while adult females have mostly brown underparts and a white face. Both sexes also have a brown breast band. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

With age, D. e. dabbenena gradually attains white plumage, although it never becomes as white as male D. e. exulans . The wing coverts also appear mostly black, although there may be white patches. Females have more brown splotches than males, and have less white in their wing coverts. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic
• homoiothermic
• bilateral symmetry
• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes alike
• male larger
• sexes colored or patterned differently
• Average mass 8130 g 286.52 oz AnAge
• Range length 1.1 to 1.35 m 3.61 to 4.43 ft
• Range wingspan 2.5 to 3.5 m 8.20 to 11.48 ft
• Average wingspan 3.1 m 10.17 ft
• Average basal metabolic rate 20.3649 W AnAge

Reproduction

Wandering albatrosses have a biennial breeding cycle, and pairs with chicks from the previous season co-exist in colonies with mating and incubating pairs. Pairs unsuccessful in one year may try to mate again in the same year or the next one, but their chances of successfully rearing young are low. ( Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

After foraging at sea, males arrive first at the same breeding site every year within days of each other. They locate and reuse old nests or sometimes create new ones. Females arrive later, over the course of a few weeks. Wandering albatrosses have a monogamous mating strategy, forming pair bonds for life. Females may bond temporarily with other males if their partner and nest are not readily visible. ( Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

• Mating System

Copulation occurs in the austral summer, usually around December (February for D. e. amsterdamensis ). Rape and extra-pair copulations are frequent, despite their monogamous mating strategy. Pairs nest on slopes or valleys, usually in the cover of grasses or shrubs. Nests are depressions lined with grass, twigs, and soil. A single egg is laid and, if incubation or rearing fails, pairs usually wait until the following year to try again. Both parents incubate eggs, which takes about 78 days on average. Although females take the first shift, males are eager to take over incubation and may forcefully push females off the egg. Untended eggs are in danger of predation by skuas ( Stercorarius ) and sheathbills ( Chionis ). ( Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

After the chick hatches, they are brooded for about 4 to 6 weeks until they can be left alone at the nest. Males and females alternate foraging at sea. Following the brooding period, both parents leave the chick by itself while they forage. The chicks are entirely dependent on their parents for food for 9 to 10 months, and may wait weeks for them to return. Chicks are entirely independent once they fledge. ( Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

Some individuals may reach sexual maturity by age 6. Immature, non-breeding individuals will return to the breeding site. Group displays are common among non-breeding adults, but most breeding adults do not participate. ( Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous
• seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• Breeding interval Breeding occurs biennially, possibly annually if the previous season's attempt fails.
• Breeding season Breeding occurs from December through March.
• Average eggs per season 1
• Range time to hatching 74 to 85 days
• Range fledging age 7 to 10 months
• Range time to independence 7 to 10 months
• Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 6 to 22 years
• Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 10 years
• Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 6 to 22 years
• Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 10 years

Males choose the nesting territory, and stay at the nest site more than females before incubation. Parents alternate during incubation, and later during brooding and feeding once the chick is old enough to be left alone at the nest. Although there is generally equal parental investment, males will tend to invest more as the chick nears fledging. Occasionally, a single parent may successfully rear its chick. ( Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

• Parental Investment
• provisioning

Lifespan/Longevity

Wandering albatrosses are long-lived. An individual nicknamed "Grandma" was recorded to live over 60 years in New Zealand. Due to the late onset of maturity, with the average age at first breeding about 10 years, such longevity is not unexpected. However, there is fairly high chick mortality, ranging from 30 to 75%. Their slow breeding cycle and late onset of maturity make wandering albatrosses highly susceptible to population declines when adults are caught as bycatch in fishing nets. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

• Range lifespan Status: wild 60 (high) years
• Average lifespan Status: wild 415 months Bird Banding Laboratory

While foraging at sea, wandering albatrosses travel in small groups. Large feeding frenzies may occur around fishing boats. Individuals may travel thousands of kilometers away from their breeding grounds, even occasionally crossing the equator.

During the breeding season, Wandering albatrosses are gregarious and displays are common (see “Communication and Perception” section, below). Vocalizations and displays occur during mating or territorial defense. ( Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

• Key Behaviors
• territorial
• Average territory size 1 m^2

Wandering albatrosses defend small nesting territories, otherwise the range within which they travel is many thousands of square kilometers. ( Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

Communication and Perception

Displays and vocalizations are common when defending territory or mating. They include croaks, bill-clapping, bill-touching, skypointing, trumpeting, head-shaking, the "ecstatic" gesture, and "the gawky-look". Individuals may also vocalize when fighting over food. ( Shirihai, 2002 )

• Communication Channels
• Perception Channels

Food Habits

Wandering albatrosses primarily eat fish, such as toothfish ( Dissostichus ), squids, other cephalopods, and occasional crustaceans. The primary method of foraging is by surface-seizing, but they have the ability to plunge and dive up to 1 meter. They will sometimes follow fishing boats and feed on catches with other Procellariiformes , which they usually outcompete because of their size. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 )

• Primary Diet
• molluscivore
• Animal Foods
• aquatic crustaceans

Although humans formerly hunted wandering albatrosses as food, adults currently have no predators. Their large size, sharp bill, and occasionally aggressive behavior make them undesirable opponents. However, some are inadvertently caught during large-scale fishing operations.

Chicks and eggs, on the other hand, are susceptible to predation from skuas and sheathbills, and formerly were harvested by humans as well. Eggs that fall out of nests or are unattended are quickly preyed upon. Nests are frequently sheltered with plant material to make them less conspicuous. Small chicks that are still in the brooding stage are easy targets for large carnivorous seabirds. Introduced predators, including mice, pigs, cats, rats, and goats are also known to eat eggs and chicks. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; IUCN, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 ; Tickell, 1968 )

• skuas ( Stercorariidae )
• sheathbills ( Chionis )
• domestic cats ( Felis silvestris )
• introduced pigs ( Sus scrofa )
• introduced goats ( Capra hircus )
• introduced rats ( Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus )
• introduced mice ( Mus musculus )

Ecosystem Roles

Wandering albatrosses are predators, feeding on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. They are known for their ability to compete with other seabirds for food, particularly near fishing boats. Although adult birds, their eggs, and their chicks were formerly a source of food to humans, such practices have been stopped. ( IUCN, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 )

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Wandering albatrosses have extraordinary morphology, with perhaps the longest wingspan of any bird. Their enormous size also makes them popular in ecotourism excursions, especially for birders. Declining population numbers also mean increased conservation efforts. Their relative tameness towards humans makes them ideal for research and study. ( Shirihai, 2002 )

• Positive Impacts
• research and education

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Wandering albatrosses, along with other seabirds, follow fishing boats to take advantage of helpless fish and are reputed to reduce economic output from these fisheries. Albatrosses also become incidental bycatch, hampering conservation efforts. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; IUCN, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 )

Conservation Status

Diomedea exulans exulans and Diomedea exulans antipodensis are listed by the IUCN Red list and Birdlife International as being vulnerable; Diomedea exulans dabbenena is listed as endangered, and Diomedea exulans amsterdamensis is listed as critically endangered.

All subspecies of Diomedea exulans are highly vulnerable to becoming bycatch of commercial fisheries, and population declines are mostly attributed to this. Introduced predators such as feral cats , pigs , goats , and rats on various islands leads to high mortality rates of chicks and eggs. Diomedea exulans amsterdamensis is listed as critically endangered due to introduced predators, risk of becoming bycatch, small population size, threat of chick mortality by disease, and loss of habitat to cattle farming.

Some conservation measures that have been taken include removal of introduced predators from islands, listing breeding habitats as World Heritage Sites, fishery relocation, and population monitoring. ( Birdlife International, 2006 ; IUCN, 2006 ; Shirihai, 2002 )

• IUCN Red List Vulnerable More information
• US Migratory Bird Act No special status
• US Federal List No special status
• CITES No special status

Contributors

Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Lauren Scopel (author), Michigan State University, Pamela Rasmussen (editor, instructor), Michigan State University.

the body of water between Africa, Europe, the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), and the western hemisphere. It is the second largest ocean in the world after the Pacific Ocean.

body of water between the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), Australia, Asia, and the western hemisphere. This is the world's largest ocean, covering about 28% of the world's surface.

uses sound to communicate

young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

an animal that mainly eats meat

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

the nearshore aquatic habitats near a coast, or shoreline.

used loosely to describe any group of organisms living together or in close proximity to each other - for example nesting shorebirds that live in large colonies. More specifically refers to a group of organisms in which members act as specialized subunits (a continuous, modular society) - as in clonal organisms.

• active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.

humans benefit economically by promoting tourism that focuses on the appreciation of natural areas or animals. Ecotourism implies that there are existing programs that profit from the appreciation of natural areas or animals.

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

eats mollusks, members of Phylum Mollusca

Having one mate at a time.

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

generally wanders from place to place, usually within a well-defined range.

islands that are not part of continental shelf areas, they are not, and have never been, connected to a continental land mass, most typically these are volcanic islands.

reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.

An aquatic biome consisting of the open ocean, far from land, does not include sea bottom (benthic zone).

an animal that mainly eats fish

the regions of the earth that surround the north and south poles, from the north pole to 60 degrees north and from the south pole to 60 degrees south.

mainly lives in oceans, seas, or other bodies of salt water.

breeding is confined to a particular season

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

associates with others of its species; forms social groups.

uses touch to communicate

that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).

Living on the ground.

defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement

A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.

A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.

A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.

uses sight to communicate

Birdlife International, 2006. "Species factsheets" (On-line). Accessed November 07, 2006 at http://www.birdlife.org .

IUCN, 2006. "2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (On-line). Accessed November 06, 2006 at http://www.iucnredlist.org .

Shirihai, H. 2002. The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife . New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Tickell, W. 1968. Biology of Great Albatrosses. Pp. 1-53 in Antarctic Bird Studies . Baltimore: Horn-Schafer.

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• Order Procellariiformes tube-nosed seabirds Procellariiformes: pictures (48) Procellariiformes: specimens (15)
• Family Diomedeidae albatrosses Diomedeidae: pictures (27) Diomedeidae: specimens (6)
• Genus Diomedea royal and wandering albatrosses Diomedea: pictures (5) Diomedea: specimens (4)
• Species Diomedea exulans wandering albatross Diomedea exulans: information (1) Diomedea exulans: pictures (3)

To cite this page: Scopel, L. 2007. "Diomedea exulans" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed July 04, 2024 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Diomedea_exulans/

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Animal encyclopedia

Exploring the magnificent wandering albatross.

September 4, 2023

John Brooks

September 4, 2023 / Reading time: 6 minutes

Sophie Hodgson

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Table of Contents

The Wandering Albatross is a truly remarkable bird that captivates the imagination of wildlife enthusiasts and researchers alike. With its impressive wingspan and majestic flight, this magnificent creature has a unique story to tell. In this article, we will delve into the world of the Wandering Albatross, exploring its characteristics, habitat, life cycle, diet, threats, conservation efforts, and even its role in culture and literature.

Understanding the Wandering Albatross

The Wandering Albatross, a majestic seabird, is a fascinating creature that captures the imagination with its impressive size and unique characteristics . Let’s delve deeper into the defining features and habitat of this remarkable bird.

Defining Characteristics of the Wandering Albatross

With a wingspan of up to 11 feet, the Wandering Albatross boasts the largest wingspan of any bird in the world. This remarkable wingspan allows it to glide effortlessly over the vast open oceans it calls home. As it soars through the air, its wingspan creates a mesmerizing spectacle, showcasing the bird’s incredible adaptability to its environment.

The Wandering Albatross is easily recognizable by its distinctive white feathers , sleek body, and long, slender wings . These defining features not only contribute to its graceful appearance but also serve a purpose in its survival. The white feathers help camouflage the bird against the bright sunlight reflecting off the ocean’s surface, while the sleek body and long wings enable it to navigate the winds with precision.

The Albatross’s Unique Habitat

These graceful birds are found primarily in the southern oceans, particularly around the Antarctic region. The vast expanse of the Southern Ocean provides an ideal environment for the Wandering Albatross to thrive. With its ability to cover immense distances, the bird utilizes the strong winds to its advantage, effortlessly gliding across the ocean in search of food and suitable breeding grounds.

During their long journeys, Wandering Albatrosses traverse various oceanic regions, from the sub-Antarctic to as far as the coast of South America. Their nomadic lifestyle allows them to explore different ecosystems , adapting to the ever-changing conditions of the open ocean.

When on land, the Wandering Albatross prefers remote and isolated islands for nesting. These islands provide the perfect breeding environment, away from human disturbance and terrestrial predators. Here, amidst the rugged cliffs and pristine beaches, the albatrosses establish their colonies, creating a spectacle of life in the midst of the vast ocean.

These incredible birds are known to return to the same nesting sites year after year, demonstrating their strong site fidelity . The remote islands become their sanctuary, where they engage in courtship rituals, build nests, and raise their young. It is a testament to their resilience and adaptability that they have managed to maintain these nesting sites for generations, despite the challenges they face in the ever-changing world.

As we continue to explore and understand the Wandering Albatross, we uncover more about its remarkable adaptations, behaviors, and interactions with its environment. The more we learn, the more we appreciate the intricate web of life that exists in the vast oceans, where these magnificent birds reign supreme.

The Life Cycle of the Wandering Albatross

Breeding and nesting patterns.

The breeding season for the Wandering Albatross begins in the austral summer months, with courtship rituals that involve intricate displays of dance and vocalizations . These courtship displays are not only a way for the albatrosses to attract a mate but also a means of establishing dominance within their colony. The males showcase their impressive wingspan and perform elaborate dances, while the females respond with their own graceful movements.

Once a pair bonds, they establish a nest on the chosen island and begin the process of reproduction. The nests are carefully constructed using a combination of soil, grass, and other materials found on the island. The albatrosses take great care in selecting the perfect location for their nest, ensuring it is protected from the harsh elements and predators.

The female typically lays a single egg, which both parents take turns incubating. Incubation lasts for approximately 60 days, during which the parents rotate shifts to keep the egg warm and protected. This shared responsibility is a testament to the strong bonds formed between Wandering Albatross pairs. The parents take turns leaving the nest to search for food, returning to regurgitate the nutrient-rich meal for their growing chick.

During the incubation period, the albatrosses face numerous challenges. They must withstand strong winds, freezing temperatures, and potential threats from predators . Despite these difficulties, the dedicated parents remain vigilant, ensuring the survival of their offspring.

Growth and Development Stages

After hatching, the chicks are cared for and fed by both parents. The parents regurgitate a nutrient-rich oil that provides essential nourishment for the growing chick. This feeding process continues for several months until the chick becomes independent enough to forage on its own. The oil not only provides the necessary nutrients but also helps to strengthen the chick’s immune system, protecting it from potential diseases.

As the chick grows, it undergoes various developmental stages. Its downy feathers gradually give way to juvenile plumage, which is darker in coloration. The chick’s beak also undergoes changes, becoming stronger and more adapted to catching prey. During this time, the parents continue to provide guidance and protection, teaching the chick essential survival skills.

It takes years for a Wandering Albatross chick to reach maturity. During this time, they undergo a remarkable transformation, gradually developing their characteristic white plumage and mastering their flight skills. The albatrosses spend a significant portion of their juvenile years at sea, honing their flying abilities and exploring vast oceanic territories. It is during this period that they face various challenges, including encounters with other seabirds and potential threats from human activities.

It is this lengthy growth period that contributes to the vulnerability of this species and its slow population recovery. The Wandering Albatross faces numerous threats, including habitat loss, climate change, and accidental capture in fishing gear. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of these magnificent birds and their unique life cycle.

The Wandering Albatross’s Diet and Hunting Techniques

Preferred prey and hunting grounds.

The Wandering Albatross is primarily a scavenger, feeding on a variety of marine organisms, including squid, fish, and crustaceans. They use their keen eyesight to spot potential prey items floating on the ocean surface, and once sighted, they plunge-dived from great heights to capture their meal. Additionally, these birds are known to scavenge carrion and exploit fishing vessels for an easy meal.

Adaptations for Hunting in the Open Ocean

Surviving in the harsh oceanic environment requires specialized adaptations, and the Wandering Albatross is well-equipped for the task. Its long wings enable it to glide effortlessly for long periods, conserving energy during hours of flight. The bird’s keen sense of smell allows it to locate food sources, even from great distances. These adaptations make the Wandering Albatross a formidable hunter and a vital component of the oceanic ecosystem.

Threats and Conservation Efforts

Human impact on the wandering albatross.

Despite their grace and beauty, Wandering Albatrosses face numerous threats that have contributed to their decline. One of the main challenges is the destructive impact of longline fishing operations, where the birds mistakenly become hooked or tangled in the fishing gear. Additionally, pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change further jeopardize the survival of these birds.

Current Conservation Strategies and Their Effectiveness

To safeguard the future of the Wandering Albatross, concerted conservation efforts are underway. Several measures have been implemented, including the establishment of protected areas and marine reserves, the development of guidelines for responsible fishing practices, and public awareness campaigns to promote the importance of nurturing this iconic species. While progress has been made, continued efforts are required to ensure the recovery and long-term survival of the Wandering Albatross.

The Role of the Wandering Albatross in Culture and Literature

Symbolism and significance in various cultures.

Throughout history, the Wandering Albatross has held deep cultural significance in many communities. In some cultures, these birds are considered symbols of loyalty, freedom, and endurance. They are often associated with seafaring traditions and are believed to bring good fortune to sailors.

The Albatross in Classic and Contemporary Literature

The haunting imagery of the Wandering Albatross has inspired numerous works of literature. Perhaps the most famous reference is found in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” where an albatross is depicted as a harbinger of both good and ill fortune. Furthermore, many modern authors have woven the essence of the Wandering Albatross into their stories, capturing its mystique and its role as a symbol of the natural world.

In conclusion, the Wandering Albatross is a remarkable bird with a captivating presence. From its unique characteristics to its adaptations for survival in the open ocean , this magnificent creature enthralls all who encounter it. However, its existence is threatened by human activities and environmental changes. Through ongoing conservation efforts and a deeper appreciation of its cultural significance, we can work towards ensuring a future where the Wandering Albatross continues to grace the skies above the vast southern oceans.

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Wandering Albatross Fact File

The wandering albatross is the largest flying bird . Their wingspan is up to 3.5m (11ft) across. These wings are incredibly slender giving them very good aerial grace while flying.

A wandering albatross is colored white across most of its body with black on the wingtips. Their may also be a black tip to the tail and wavy lines across the breast in some individuals. Some also have a pinkish spot behind the ears. Females and males differ only in the females having brown speckles on the crown.

Their feet are colored a pale flesh color and have webbing between the toes which acts as brakes when they come in to land.

Protruding from the head is a yellowish-pink bill which has a small hook at the end. On either side of this are tubular nostrils which provide an excellent sense of smell.

The body of a wandering albatross measures 1.1m (3.5ft) long and weighs 8-11.5kg (18-25lbs).

Wandering albatross are carnivores. Their diet is composed of sea creatures such as fish, krill and squid. Most of their prey is taken at the surface or during shallow dives. Carrion may be taken including of larger species such as penguins or seals.

Increasingly these birds will follow fishing boats and take any items which are thrown aside.

Scientific Name

Diomedea exulans

Conservation Status

8-11.5kg (18-25lbs)

1.1m (3.5ft)

3.5m (11ft)

35-40 years

Carnivorous

These birds have a wide range running circumpolar around the Subantarctic Ocean. They can be found on land in the following countries - Angola, Antarctica, Argentina, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Australia, Bouvet Island, Brazil, Chile, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Panama, Portugal, Réunion, Saint Helena, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Tonga, United States and Uruguay.

While breeding they will nest in open or patchy vegetation on an exposed hillside. During the rest of the year they fly above the southern ocean.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place in summer starting in December. Pairs are monogamous and form for life though females may find another mate if hers is not present when she returns to the nesting site and it is not uncommon for mating to occur outside of mated pairs.

Males return to their nesting site first and will make a nest or reuse one from previous years. The females will join them over the course of the next few weeks and locate their mate.

Pairs breed once every two years. If they fail to breed or their chick does not survive they may try again in the same season or the next year.

They undertake a courtship display which includes spreading the wings, clapping the bill and uttering a moaning call.

Their nest is made out of mud and vegetation and is placed on an exposed ridge.

Both parents will work together to incubate a single egg. The egg is incubated for 78 days. Once the chick hatches the parents will brood it for four to six weeks.

Following this the parents will leave the chick at the nest while they go off to feed. The chick continues to rely on its parents for food for 9-10 months. The parents may leave them alone for weeks at a time though while they go to feed. The chick is fed with regurgitated food.

They will first breed around 11-15 years old though they start returning to the colony at 6 years old.

Wandering albatross may spend up to 50 days out over the water flying and foraging for food. During the breeding season they will reduce the length of these trips.

While on these foraging trips they will travel in small groups. During the breeding season large numbers will come together at the breeding sites.

A range of vocalizations are made including croaks, bill-clapping and trumpeting.

Predators and Threats

Eggs are preyed upon by skuas and shearwaters. Their nests may also be targeted by introduced species such as cats, goats, pigs, rats and mice. Humans have previously hunted them in small amounts.

One of the largest developing threats for this species is long-line fishing. They can become entangled in these lines while hunting for food.

Quick facts

Their scientific name comes from a Latin word for ‘living in exile.’

They are occasionally called the ‘snowy albatross’ as they are so white. Others refer to them as the white-winged albatross.

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Photo Credits

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By Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo, NOAA Corps: NOAA Photo Library - anim0672Uploaded by Snowmanradio, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15550183

Middle Two and Bottom

By JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20760374

Burnie, D., 2011. Animal. 3rd ed. London: DK

Ambrose, J., 2015. Wildlife Of The World. 1st ed. London: Dorling Kindersley, p.

Birdlife.org.au. 2020. Wandering Albatross | Birdlife Australia. [online] Available at: < https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/wandering-albatross > [Accessed 5 December 2020].

Antarctica.gov.au. 2020. Wandering Albatross. [online] Available at: < https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/flying-birds/wandering-albatross/ > [Accessed 5 December 2020].

Tikkanen, A., 2020. Albatross | Bird. [online] Encyclopedia Britannica. Available at: < https://www.britannica.com/animal/albatross > [Accessed 5 December 2020].

Scopel, L. 2007. "Diomedea exulans" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 05, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Diomedea_exulans/

Waugh, S.M. 2013. Wandering albatross. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz

Environment.nsw.gov.au. 2020. Wandering Albatross - Profile | NSW Environment, Energy And Science. [online] Available at: < https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10907 > [Accessed 5 December 2020].

Bouglouan, N., 2020. Wandering Albatross. [online] Oiseaux-birds.com. Available at: < http://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-wandering-albatross.html > [Accessed 5 December 2020].

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Albatross (wandering), flying and feeding.

The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird and is perhaps the most magnificent of all twelve species of albatross.

• The Wandering Albatross and Humans

The albatross usually feeds far out at sea, alone or in groups. It swoops down to land on the surface and catches its main prey - octopus, squid and cuttlefish - with its large bill, which can be as much as 18cm in length. Sometimes shallow dives are made to catch fish and other creatures below the surface. Albatrosses seem to like refuse from ships too, flopping down into the water and sometimes following a ship for days, waiting for scraps to be thrown overboard.

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Wandering Albatross

• Updated 28/07/23
• Read time 2 minutes

• IUCN Conservation Status VULNERABLE (VU)
• Classification Genus Diomedea Species exulans Family Diomedeidae Order Procellariiformes Class Aves
• Size Range 80 cm to 135 cm

The Wandering Albatross is the largest of the albatrosses and is the living bird with the greatest wingspan, measuring almost 3.5 m.

What do Wandering Albatrosses look like?

Identification.

The adult Wandering Albatross appears entirely white from a distance. Close up, the fine black wavy lines on the breast, neck and upper back become visible. The bill can vary in colour, but is normally yellowish-pink. The white tail is occasionally tipped with black and the back of the wing changes from black to white with age. A series of plumage phases are passed through as young birds reach full adult plumage, which can take up to nine years. Females are slightly smaller than males.

Where do Wandering Albatrosses live?

Wandering Albatrosses spend most of their life in flight, landing only to breed and feed. Distances travelled each year are hard to measure, but one banded bird was recorded travelling 6000 km in twelve days.

Distribution

The Wandering Albatross visits Australian waters from Fremantle, Western Australia to northern New South Wales between June and September each year. At other times birds roam the southern oceans and commonly follow fishing boats for several days.

What do Wandering Albatrosses eat?

Feeding and diet.

Wandering Albatrosses are often seen scavenging scraps from fishing boats, but squid and fish are the preferred foods. Galley refuse and floating waste also form part of the diet. Feeding is one of the few times that birds land, and this is mostly undertaken at night.

What are Wandering Albatrosses breeding behaviours?

Breeding behaviour/s.

Pairs of Wandering Albatrosses mate for life and breed every two years. Breeding takes place on subantarctic islands and commences in early November. The nest is a mound of mud and vegetation, and is placed on an exposed ridge near the sea. During the early stages of the chick's development, the parents take turns to sit on the nest while the other searches for food. Later, both adults hunt for food and visit the chick at irregular intervals.

Breeding Season: November.

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• Bird profiles

Wandering Albatross

• Scientific name Diomedea exulans
• Bird family albatrosses
• Status Vulnerable (VU)

Bird Overview

The Wandering Albatross is the largest of the albatrosses and is the living bird with the greatest wingspan, measuring almost 3.5 m.

Identification

The adult Wandering Albatross appears entirely white from a distance. Close up, the fine black wavy lines on the breast, neck and upper back become visible. The bill can vary in colour, but is normally yellowish-pink. The white tail is occasionally tipped with black and the back of the wing changes from black to white with age. A series of plumage phases are passed through as young birds reach full adult plumage, which can take up to nine years. Females are slightly smaller than males.

During plumage changes from juvenile stages to adulthood, identification of Wandering Albatrosses can be difficult, and birds may be confused with other large albatrosses with similar colourings.

The Wandering Albatross visits Australian waters from Fremantle, Western Australia to northern New South Wales between June and September each year. At other times birds roam the southern oceans and commonly follow fishing boats for several days.

Habitat: Marine

The Wandering Albatross has a circumpolar distribution, occurring throughout the Southern Ocean, and the species is regularly recorded in the deep oceanic waters off southern Australia.

Wandering Albatrosses spend most of their life in flight, landing only to breed and feed. Distances travelled each year are hard to measure, but one banded bird was recorded travelling 6000 km in twelve days.

Wandering Albatrosses are often seen scavenging scraps from fishing boats, but squid and fish are the preferred foods. Galley refuse and floating waste also form part of the diet. Feeding is one of the few times that birds land, and this is mostly undertaken at night.

Because the albatrosses usually forage by seizing cuttlefish, squid and other cephalopods from the water’s surface, they are susceptible to being ensnared by long-line fishing-rigs, and a decline in their populations has been attributed to this activity.

The Wandering Albatrosses nearest breeding colony is on Macquarie Island, though this colony is one of the world’s smallest, comprising a mere handful of birds.

Pairs of Wandering Albatrosses mate for life and breed every two years. Breeding takes place on subantarctic islands and commences in early November. The nest is a mound of mud and vegetation and is placed on an exposed ridge near the sea. During the early stages of the chick’s development, the parents take turns to sit on the nest while the other searches for food. Later, both adults hunt for food and visit the chick at irregular intervals.

Wandering albatross | Toroa

Diomedea exulans linnaeus, 1758.

Order: Procellariiformes

Family: Diomedeidae

New Zealand status: Native

Conservation status: Migrant

Other names: snowy albatross

Geographical variation: Nil

Wandering albatross | Toroa. Adult in flight. South Georgia, February 2019. Image © Glenn Pure 2019 birdlifephotography.org.au by Glenn Pure

• Species Information
• Breeding and ecology

Wandering albatrosses are among the largest birds in the New Zealand marine area, surpassed only slightly by the southern royal albatross for size. Together, these are the largest of the great albatrosses, of which four species occur in New Zealand waters. The wandering albatross is most similar to the slightly smaller and darker Antipodean albatross, and the two are often lumped together as one species under the wandering albatross name. Here we use wandering albatross to refer only to the larger form that does not breed in the New Zealand region (other than a few pairs on Macquarie Island).

Great albatrosses have an impressive wingspan and slow gliding flight, which distinguishes them from other smaller groups (e.g. gulls and mollymawks). They are normally found offshore, but can be seen in southern New Zealand waters and northwards to Cook Strait, and in lower numbers further north. Care is needed to separate wandering and Antipodean albatrosses, as their plumage markings overlap almost completely. The most reliable distinguishing characteristics are the larger size, and especially the larger bill of the true wanderer.

Identification

The adult wandering albatross is a very large white bird with variable amounts of black on the enormous (3 m wingspan) wings and a pinkish-salmon coloured bill. Some adults have a pinkish stain behind the ears. The wandering albatross has numerous, graduated plumage phases, from chocolate brown juveniles with white faces and underwings through to mature males that are pure white apart from their black wing tips and trailing edge to the wing. At close range, even the whitest birds usually have fine dark vermiculations on their body feathers (not present in the royal albatrosses). Most wandering albatrosses (and Antipodean albatrosses) have upper wings that are either completely dark or have a large white patch in the centre of the inner wing that expands as the bird gets older. All but the whitest colour variations of wandering albatross are also seen in the Antipodean albatross, which is slightly smaller with a smaller bill, most apparent if the birds settle on the water together.

Voice: wandering albatrosses are mainly silent at sea. At breeding grounds they give a high-pitched trumpeting call, and also groans, rattles, and ‘puck’ sounds.

Similar species: the two royal albatross species are bulkier birds with a hunch-backed look in flight, and a fine dark cutting edge to the upper mandible (this can be difficult to see in flying birds). Royal albatrosses are much whiter birds, and (except for juvenile northern royal albatrosses) rarely have dark feathers anywhere other than the upperwings, which tend to whiten from the leading edge back, looking like the bird has flown through a bag of flour (cf. wandering and Antipodean albatrosses whitening from the centre of the wing outwards). Antipodean albatrosses (including Gibson’s albatross) never get as white as the whitest wandering albatrosses, and usually have at least a dark skull cap. Other than mature ‘snowy’ male wandering albatrosses, the two species can only be separated by size, with Antipodean albatross smaller with a shorter and less robust bill. Extra-limital Tristan albatross and Amsterdam albatross have the same plumage states as Antipodean albatross, though Amsterdam albatross has a dark cutting edge to the upper mandible.

Distribution and habitat

Wandering albatrosses breed on South Georgia and on Crozet, Kerguelen, Marion, Prince Edward, Heard and Macquarie Islands, and range throughout the Southern Ocean in latitudes from Antarctic to subtropical waters. Non-breeding birds from the Crozet Islands (and to a lesser extent other populations) frequent New Zealand waters. Non-breeding birds from the Crozet Islands (breeders in their sabbatical year, and pre-breeding birds) may spend extensive periods in the deep waters in both the Tasman Sea and the eastern waters of New Zealand from the subantarctic to latitudes around East Cape.

Wandering albatrosses breed outside of the New Zealand region, in the southern Indian and Atlantic Oceans and at Macquarie Island south-west of New Zealand. A global population of c. 8050 breeds biannually.

Threats and conservation

Threats to wandering albatrosses at breeding sites are few, as they breed mainly on sites with few or no predators. Threats in the marine environment consist principally of fisheries interactions, with population decreases linked to fishing mortality, particularly in longline fisheries. Recent studies have shown strong life-history consequences of inter-decadal changes in wind patterns, with stronger winds in the southern latitudes leading to reduced effort required for foraging by breeding birds, and positive population consequences.

Breeding occurs only outside of New Zealand and begins in the Austral spring, continuing for 8-10 months, depending on the site. Wandering albatrosses breed as monogamous pairs no more than once every two years, and have long-term pair bonds. The single large egg is laid in December or early January and is incubated by the parents in alternating shifts for about 11 weeks, with most hatching in March. The chick takes another 7-9 months to fledge; as the full breeding cycle takes 10-12 months, the adults then take a sabbatical year to complete their moult before attempting to breed again. Immature birds return to colonies when 6-10 years old, and typically do not start breeding until 11-15 years old.

Behaviour and ecology

Wandering albatrosses are solitary at sea, though may feed in flocks in association with fishing vessels.

The wandering albatross is essentially a scavenger, feeding on squid (especially) and marine fishes, and mainly within a few metres of the surface. Most prey is captured by surface seizing.

BirdLife factsheet

Do albatrosses have personalities?  Te Papa Channel

ACAP 2012. Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. ACAP Species assessment: wandering albatross Diomedea exulans .

del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J (eds) 1992. Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 1, ostrich to ducks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Marchant, S.; Higgins, P.J. (eds) 1990 . Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds . Vol.1, ratites to ducks. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Onley, D.; Scofield, P. 2007. Albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters of the world . Helm Field Guide, Princeton University Press.

Rolland, V.; Weimerskirch, H.; Barbraud, C. 2010. Relative influence of fisheries and climate on the demography of four albatross species . Global Change Biology 16 : 1910-1922

Tuck, G.; Polacheck, T.; Croxall, J.P.; Weimerskirch, H. 2001. Modelling the impact of fisheries by-catches on albatross populations . Journal of Applied Ecology 38 : 1182-1196.

Weimerskirch, H.; Brothers, N.; Jouventin, P. 1997. Population dynamics of wandering albatross Diomedea exulans and Amsterdam albatross D . amsterdamensis in the Indian Ocean and their relationships with long-line fisheries: conservation implications . Biological Conservation 79 : 257-270.

Recommended citation

Waugh, S.M. 2013 [updated 2022]. Wandering albatross | Toroa. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online . www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz

Length: 120 cm

Weight: 8 - 10 kg

Similar species: Antipodean albatross | Toroa , Southern royal albatross | Toroa , Northern royal albatross | Toroa

A very large white albatross with variable amounts of black on the wings, fine dark vermiculations on body feathers, very large pinkish-salmon bill, and in some adults a pinkish stain behind the ears. There are many graduated plumage phases from chocolate brown juveniles with white faces and underwings to pure white mature males with black wing tips and trailing edge to the wing.

  Calls from pair at nest, with bill clapping

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Fact Animal

Facts About Animals

Wandering Albatross Facts

Wandering albatross profile.

In 1961, Dion and the Del Satins had a song from the perspective of an albatross. It wasn’t accurate on many counts, but it did get one thing right: they get around.

The Diomedea exulans, more commonly known as the wandering albatross is perhaps the most accomplished wanderer of any animal, with routine voyages of hundreds of kilometres per day on record-breaking wings.

They are a large seabird with a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean, and sometimes known as snowy albatross, white-winged albatross or goonie.

Wandering Albatross Facts Overview

The wandering albatross breeds on islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, such as South Georgia Island, Crozet Islands, Prince Edward Island and others.

They spend most of their life in flight , and land only to breed and feed.

These are phenomenal birds, capable of surviving some of the harshest weather conditions even at the most vulnerable stages of their development.

They are slow to reproduce, spending extra time to develop into one of the biggest and most specialised animals in the air.

Sadly, this is what makes them vulnerable to population declines, and longline fishing vessels are responsible for many adult deaths.

Interesting Wandering Albatross Facts

1. they can travel 120k km (75k) miles in a year.

The Wandering albatross might be the most wide-ranging of all foraging sea birds, and maybe of all animals. They’ve been tracked over 15,000 km in a single foraging trip, capable of speeds of up to 80 kmph and distances of over 900 km per day. 1

2. They’re monogamous (mostly)

This goes against the entire theme of the Del Satins song and is probably why it’s no longer used as a learning aid in the zoological curriculum.

Contrary to the promiscuous subject of the ‘60s hit, the Wandering Albatrosses mate for life and are (on average) monogamous.

When breeding, they take on incubation shifts, and it’s during these periods when the wanderer goes out on their epic voyages to return with food for their family.

Still, there’s an element of personal preference when it comes to breeding.

Most females will take a year or two off after the long and arduous task of reproduction. During this time the parents will go their separate ways, only to reunite when the time is right.

In these periods, some females will take on a temporary mate, so they can squeeze out one more chick before reuniting with their permanent nesting partner. 2

3. Wandering albatross are active in moonlight

When on these journeys, the albatross is almost constantly active. During the day they spend the entire time in the air, and while they don’t cover much distance at night, they were still recorded almost constantly moving – never stopping for more than 1.6h in the dark.

They appear to travel more on moonlit nights than on darker ones.

All of this data comes from satellite trackers attached to some birds, which are always going to skew the results.

Flying birds are optimised for weight, and trackers add to this weight, so there’s necessarily a negative effect on the individual’s fitness when lumbering them with a tracker.

Still, these subjects were able to outlast the trackers’ batteries on many occasions, and it’s safe to assume they’re capable of even more than we can realistically measure!

4. They have the largest wingspan of any bird in the world

One advantage that an albatross has over, say, a pigeon, when it comes to carrying a researcher’s hardware, is that it doesn’t need to flap much.

The albatross is the bird with the longest wingspan of any flying animal – growing up to 3.2 m (10.5 ft), and these wings are meticulously adapted for soaring.

The Guiness Book of Records claims the largest wingspan of any living species of bird was a wandering albatross with a wingspan of 3.63m (11 ft 11) caught in 1965 by scientists on the Antarctic research ship USNS Eltanin in the Tasman Sea.

Research has suggested that these wings function best against slight headwinds, and act like the sails of a boat, allowing the bird to cover more ground by “tacking”, like a sailboat: zig-zagging across the angle of the wind to make forward progress into it. 3

5. Fat chicks

As mentioned, these voyages are usually a result of foraging trips for their chicks.

The environment for a growing albatross is one of the least conducive for life. Freezing winter storms and exposed ledges make for a hilly upbringing for the baby birds.

Fed on a healthy diet of regurgitated squid, these albatross chicks grow to enormous sizes. On nesting sites, it’s not uncommon to find a fluffy baby albatross weighing up to 10kg.

These chicks are heavier than their parents, and they need the extra mass to protect them from the Winter season while they grow into fledglings. They’re also such big birds that they take longer than a season to reach maturity.

It takes around ten months of feeding, back and forth from the ocean every few days, for the parents to grow a healthy adult offspring.

6. Being a parent takes practice

When inexperienced parents were compared with those who’d brought up chicks before, it was found that their chicks are a little slower to fatten up, at least in the first few months.

Parents would feed less regularly, but with much larger amounts, and it seems to take a while to get the routine down.

By the end of the breeding season, these differences disappeared and the parents became fully qualified.

7. 25% of chicks die when they leave the colony

The huge chicks have one of the longest rearing periods of any bird, and this is after an 11-month incubation period! And if they survive all this, they still have a long way to go.

There’s a period of 3 to 7 years during which the young chick will leave the colony alone and spend the entire time at sea.

During the first two months of this learning phase, 25% of chicks die. This is a critical time for the young birds, but if they survive, they’ll return to the colony and find a mate. 4

8. They’re good sniffers

These birds feed primarily on smelly things like squid, and they’ve developed a very keen sense of smell to find them from downwind.

Wandering Albatrosses have one of the largest olfactory bulbs of any bird and they’re honed to fishy aromas.

They combine this sense with strong vision to identify productive areas of the ocean for hunting and foraging. 5

9. They are part of a ‘species complex’

When multiple species are so similar in appearance and other features, it makes their boundaries unclear and this group is known as a species complex.

The wandering albatross was long considered the same species as the Tristan albatross and the Antipodean albatross. Along with the Amsterdam albatross, they form a species complex.

Taxonomy of animals in general is tricky, and some researchers still describe them as the same species.

10. The wandering albatross is vulnerable

The ICUN has classified the wandering albatross as vulnerable, and the last study of their population size in 2007 indicated there were an estimated 25,000 birds.

The biggest threat to their survival is fishing, in particular longline fishing. This is where a long mainline is used with baited hooks, and they are prone to accidental catching of birds, as well as dolphins, sharks, turtles and other sea creatures. Pollution, mainly from plastics and fishing hooks is also a problem for birds such as the wandering albatross.

Convervation efforts are underway to reduce bycatch of albatrosses and some breeding islands are now classified as nature reserves.

Wandering Albatross Fact-File Summary

Scientific classification, fact sources & references.

• Jouventin, P., Weimerskirch, H (1990), “ Satellite tracking of Wandering albatrosses “, Nature.
• GrrlScientist (2022), “ Divorce Is More Common In Albatross Couples With Shy Males, Study Finds “, Forbes.
• Richardson, P. L., Wakefield, E. D., & Phillips, R. A. (2018), “ Flight speed and performance of the wandering albatross with respect to wind “, Movement Ecology.
• Weimerskirch, H., Cherel, Y., Delord, K., Jaeger, A., Patrick, S. C., & Riotte-Lambert, L. (2014), “ Lifetime foraging patterns of the wandering albatross: Life on the move! “, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.
• Nevitt, G. A., Losekoot, M., & Weimerskirch, H. (2008), “ Evidence for olfactory search in wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans “, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Large — Wandering and Royal —Albatrosses: Characteristics, Subspecies and Courtship

Home | Category: Sea Birds

LARGE ALBATROSSES

Considered to be the largest seabirds and among the largest of all birds capable of flight, Royal albatross and wandering albatrosses are predators at the top of the food chain. They engage in elaborate courtship displays and establish permanent pair bonds, Pairs devote a full year to the breeding cycle, in which a single chick is reared, then spend most of the next year on the high seas. fledglings catch gusts of wind, glide a few meters, then start again. These training sessions prepare them for flying over the open ocean. [Source: Canon advertisement]

Although humans formerly hunted albatrosses as food, adults currently have no predators. Their large size, sharp bill, and occasionally aggressive behavior make them undesirable opponents. However, some are inadvertently caught during large-scale fishing operations. Chicks and eggs, on the other hand, are susceptible to predation from skuas and sheathbills and introduced predators such as mice, pigs, cats, rats, and goats. Eggs that fall out of nests or are unattended are quickly preyed upon. Nests are frequently sheltered with plant material to make them less conspicuous. Small chicks that are still in the brooding stage are easy targets for large carnivorous seabirds.

Royal albatrosses and all subspecies of wandering albatrosses are highly vulnerable to becoming bycatch of commercial fisheries, and population declines are mostly attributed to this. Introduced predators such as feral cats, pigs, goats, and rats on various islands leads to high mortality rates of chicks and eggs. Conservation efforts have included the removal of introduced predators from islands and fishery relocation. /=\

See Separate Articles: SEA BIRDS: TYPES, MIGRATIONS AND THREATS ioa.factsanddetails.com ; ALBATROSSES: CHARACTERISTICS, NESTING AND THREATS ioa.factsanddetails.com

Websites and Resources: Animal Diversity Web (ADW) animaldiversity.org ; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) noaa.gov ; Encyclopedia of Life eol.org ; Smithsonian Oceans Portal ocean.si.edu/ocean-life-ecosystems ; MarineBio marinebio.org/oceans/creatures

Wandering Albatrosses

wandering albatross

Wandering albatrosses (Scientific name:Diomedea exulans) have the largest wings of any bird: three to 3.5 meters (10 to 11 feet) across. Because such enormous wings are difficult to flap rapidly they have difficulty taking off. Some launch themselves off cliffs. Others leap into head winds which provide them with lift. Crowded colonies often have a landing strip where the birds can land and takeoff, with birds cuing up like waiting planes at an airport. Taking off is particularly hard for young birds.

Wandering albatrosses are native to oceanic islands, the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean and are found almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, although occasional sightings just north of the Equator have been reported. They are widely dispersed over the Southern Ocean and have been seen on coastal areas and islands of southern South America, southern Africa and southern Australia. In 2002, there were an estimated 8,500 pairs. [Source: Canon advertisement]

Wandering albatrosses breed on several remote oceanic and subantarctic islands, which are characterized by peat soils, tussock grass on hillocks, sedges, mosses, and shrubs. Wandering albatrosses nest in sheltered areas on plateaus, near ridges and on grassy plains or in valleys. Outside of the breeding season, wandering albatrosses are found only in the open ocean, where food is abundant. [Source: Lauren Scopel, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Wandering and royal albatrosses are long-lived. A wandering albatross nicknamed "Grandma" was recorded to live over 60 years in New Zealand. Due to the late onset of maturity, with the average age at first breeding about 10 years, such longevity is not unexpected. However, there is fairly high chick mortality, ranging from 30 to 75 percent. Their slow breeding cycle and late onset of maturity make wandering albatrosses highly susceptible to population declines when adults are caught as bycatch in fishing nets. /=\

Wandering Albatross Characteristics

Wandering albatrosses range in length from 1.1 to 1.37 meters (3.6 to 4.5 feet). Their wingspan ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 meters (8.2 to 11.5 feet), with their average wingspan being 3.1 meters (10.2 feet). They weigh six to 11 kilograms (13 to 24 pounds), with their average weight being 8.1 kilograms (18 pounds). Their average basal metabolic rate is 20.3649 watts. Sexual dimorphism (differences between males and females is minimal: Both sexes are roughly equal in size and look similar but males are larger sexes are colored and patterned differently. [Source: Lauren Scopel, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Wandering albatrosses are endothermic (use their metabolism to generate heat and regulate body temperature independent of the temperatures around them), homoiothermic (warm-blooded, having a constant body temperature, usually higher than the temperature of their surroundings) and have bilateral symmetry (both sides of the animal are the same). /=\

All subspecies of wandering albatrosses have extremely long wingspans, white underwing coverts, and pink bills. Adult body plumage ranges from pure white to dark brown, and the wings range from being entirely blackish to a combination of black with white coverts and scapulars. They are distinguished from the closely related royal albatross by their white eyelids, pink bill color, lack of black on the maxilla, and head and body shape. On average, males have longer bills, tarsi, tails, and wings than females. /=\

Juveniles of all subspecies are very much alike; they have chocolate-brown plumage with a white face and black wings. As individuals age, most become progressively whiter with each molt, starting with the back.

Wandering Albatross Subspecies

There is some disagreement over how many subspecies of wandering albatross there are, and whether they should be considered separate species. Most subspecies of wandering albatrosses are difficult to tell apart, especially as juveniles, but DNA analyses have shown that significant differences exist. [Source: Lauren Scopel, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

The main subspecies are: 1) Diomedea exulansexulans, which breeds on South Georgia, Prince Edward, Marion, Crozet, Kerguelen, and Macquarie islands; 2) Diomedea exulans dabbenena, which occurs on Gough and Inaccessible islands, ranging over the Atlantic Ocean to western coastal Africa; 3) Diomedea exulans antipodensis, which is found primarily on the Antipodes of New Zealand, and ranges at sea from Chile to eastern Australia; 4) Diomedea exulans. amsterdamensis, which is found only on Amsterdam Island and the surrounding seas. Other subspecies names that have become obsolete include A) Diomedea exulansgibsoni, now commonly considered part of D. e. antipodensis, and B) Diomedea exulansgibsoni chionoptera, considered part of D. e. exulans. /=\

1) D. e. exulans averages larger than other recognized subspecies, and is the only taxon that achieves fully white body plumage, and this only in males. Although females do not become pure white, they can still be distinguished from other subspecies by color alone. Adults also have mostly white coverts, with black only on the primaries and secondaries. 2) Adults of D. e. amsterdamensis have dark brown plumage with white faces and black crowns, and are distinguished from juveniles by their white bellies and throats. In addition to their black tails, they also have a black stripe along the cutting edge of the maxilla, a character otherwise found in D. epomophora but not other forms of Wandering albatrosses. Males and females are similar in plumage. /=\

3) Adults of D. e. antipodensis display Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females): in plumage, with older males appearing white with some brown splotching, while adult females have mostly brown underparts and a white face. Both sexes also have a brown breast band. 4) With age, D. e. dabbenena gradually attains white plumage, although it never becomes as white as male D. e. exulans. The wing coverts also appear mostly black, although there may be white patches. Females have more brown splotches than males, and have less white in their wing coverts. /=\

Wandering albatrosses exulans and Wandering albatrosses antipodensis are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list and Birdlife International as being vulnerable; Wandering albatrosses dabbenena is listed as Endangered. Wandering albatrosses amsterdamensis is listed as critically Endangered due to introduced predators, risk of becoming bycatch, small population size, threat of chick mortality by disease, and loss of habitat to cattle farming

Wandering Albatross Behavior and Feeding

Wandering albatrosses defend small nesting territories. The average size of these territories is one square meters. Otherwise the range within which they travel is many thousands of square kilometers. While foraging at sea, wandering albatrosses travel in small groups. Large feeding frenzies may occur around fishing boats. Individuals may travel thousands of kilometers away from their breeding grounds, even occasionally crossing the equator. /=\

Wandering albatrosses sense using vision, touch, sound and chemicals usually detected with smell. They communicate with vision, touch and sound. During the breeding season, they are gregarious and displays are common Displays and vocalizations are common when defending territory or mating. They include croaks, bill-clapping, bill-touching, skypointing, trumpeting, head-shaking, the "ecstatic" gesture, and "the gawky-look". Individuals may also vocalize when fighting over food.

Wandering albatrosses primarily eat fish, such as toothfish, squids, other cephalopods, and occasional crustaceans. The primary method of feeding is by surface-seizing. They have the ability to plunge and dive up to one meter. They will sometimes follow fishing boats and feed on catches with other seabirds, which they usually outcompete because of their size.

Wandering Albatross Mating and Reproduction

Wandering albatrosses engage in seasonal breeding. Breeding occurs biennially, possibly annually if the previous season's attempt fails. The breeding season is from December through March. Pairs with chicks from the previous season co-exist in colonies with mating and incubating pairs. Pairs unsuccessful in one year may try to mate again in the same year or the next one, but their chances of successfully rearing young are low.[Source: Lauren Scopel, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Wandering albatrosses are monogamous (have one mate at a time). They forming pair bonds for life. Females may bond temporarily with other males if their partner and nest are not readily visible. After foraging at sea, males arrive first at the same breeding site every year within days of each other. They locate and reuse old nests or sometimes create new ones. Females arrive later, over the course of a few weeks.

Copulation occurs in the austral summer, usually around December (February for D. e. amsterdamensis). Rape and extra-pair copulations are frequent, despite their monogamous mating strategy. Some individuals may reach sexual maturity by age six. Immature, non-breeding individuals will return to the breeding site. Group displays are common among non-breeding adults, but most breeding adults do not participate. /=\

Wandering Albatross Nesting and Young

courting wandering albatross male and female

For wandering albatrosses the average number of eggs per season is one. The time to hatching ranges from 74 to 85 days, with the fledging age ranging from seven to 10 months and the age in which they become independent ranging from seven to 10 months. Females and males reach sexual maturity at six to 22 years, with the average being 10 years. During the pre-fertilization stage provisioning and protecting is done by females. During the pre-birth stage provisioning is done by females and protecting is done by males and females. During the pre-weaning stage provisioning and protecting are done by females and males. During Pre-independence provisioning is by females and males. /=\

Pairs nest on slopes or valleys, usually in the cover of grasses or shrubs. Nests are depressions lined with grass, twigs, and soil. Males choose the nesting territory, and stay at the nest site more than females before incubation. Both parents incubate eggs and alternate during incubation. Although females take the first shift, males are eager to take over incubation and may forcefully push females off the egg.

Although there is generally equal parental investment, males tend to invest more as the chick nears fledging. Occasionally, a single parent may successfully rear its chick. Untended eggs are in danger of predation by skuas and sheathbills, After the chick hatches, they are brooded for about four to six weeks until they can be left alone at the nest. Males and females alternate foraging at sea. Following the brooding period, both parents leave the chick by itself while they forage. The chicks are entirely dependent on their parents for food for nine to 10 months, and may wait weeks for them to return. Chicks are entirely independent once they fledge. /=\

Royal Albatrosses

Royal albatrosses (Scientific name: Diomedea epomophora) live in temperate, tropical and polar saltwater-marine environments. They are found in coastal areas and in the open ocean far from land. Nearly 80 percent of a royal albatross' life is spent directly exposed to the cold, treacherous, open oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. Remote tropical islands are sought out for nesting. They typically nest on slopes with tussock grass providing some shelter, though exposed sites are also common as they ease the often difficult tasks of take-off and landing. [Source: Jason LaGosh, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Royal albatross are remarkably long-lived when considering that the vast majority of their lives are spent over the perilous southern oceans. The adult mortality rate is three percent per year. In the wild, a royal albatross was known to have lived to over 58 years. It is possible that some birds may reach an age of 80 years. Due in part to their large size and solitary lifestyle, both in the air and on secluded islands, royal adult albatross have no known predators. Introduced predators such as cats and rats may be a threat to eggs and young.

Humans have been a threat in the past. Populations declined rapidly due to commercial fishing practices but recent, stricter penalties for killing royal albatross have helped populations remain stable and healthy. In New Zealand waters trawlers are required to replace outdated equipment and implement new, safer methods. Today, populations are estimated to be 10,000 to 20,000 pairs. Royal albatross are listed as 'Vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They have no special status according to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Feeding and Northern and Southern Royal Albatross

There are two subspecies of royal albatrosses. 1) Northern royal albatrosses (D. e. sanfordi) commonly nest on Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands. Southern royal albatrosses (D.e. epomophora) nest almost exclusively on the Chatham Islands, located hundreds of miles east of New Zealand. After breeding, the species may circumnavigate the Southern Ocean, though it is most commonly sighted in New Zealand and South American waters. It has never been recorded north of the Equator. /=\

Differences in the appearances of the two subspecies are minimal. Both are predominantly white, with faint pinkish bills. Northern royal albatrosses are considerably smaller and have entirely black upper wings. Southern royal albatrosses have predominantly white wings with black markings near the wing tips. Northern royal albatross can fly 1,800 kilometers in 24 hours.

The range of Royal albatrosses extends throughout the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. They mainly eat squid such as the greater hooked squid and giant warty squid as well as fish such as blue grenadier and some crustaceans. Due to their lack of maneuverability, an albatross rarely picks up prey in flight. Instead, they sit on the water and use a method known as surface-seizing. Occasionally, they make shallow plunges. Most of their hunting, particularly for squid, is done at night.

Royal Albatross Characteristics, Flying and Behavior

Royal albatrosses have very long, slender, knife-like wings. They have an average weight of nine kilograms (20 pounds) and range in length from 1.1 to 1.2 meters (3.5 to 4 feet). Their wingspan ranges from three to 3.5 meters (10 to 11.5 feet), with their average wingspan being 3.25 meters (10.7 feet). Males are slightly larger than females.[Source: Jason LaGosh, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Royal albatrosses are good gliders and are diurnal (active during the daytime), nocturnal (active at night), motile (move around as opposed to being stationary), nomadic (move from place to place, generally within a well-defined range) and solitary. It it estimated that they travel more than 163,000 kilometers (100,000 miles) each year, reaching speeds over 110 kilometers per hour (70 miles per hour). Royal albatross are generally solitary at sea. Sometimes they form large congregations when abundant food is present, particularly around fishing boats. Hundreds of older juveniles and birds without mates may gather on land in resting areas.

Because they are unable to sustain flapping flight, royal albatross cannot fly in calm weather. According to Animal Diversity Web: When winds drop, royal albatross may be forced to float in the oceans. Instead of flapping their wings, royal albatross glide, using the updrafts of air which are deflected upwards by the waves of the ocean. As majestic as royal albatross are in the sky, their methods for take-off and landing are anything but graceful. Royal albatross must take a long running start with their wings spread to take off. An element of danger exists in landing, particularly on solid ground. Without continued flapping, braking can be difficult. Often times, this results in crash landings, where injuries are not uncommon. /=\

Royal albatrosses communicate with vision, touch and sound and sense using vision, touch, sound and chemicals usually detected with smell. Elaborate displays are done by males and females to form pair-bonds. Actions like 'Bill-circling', 'Sky-pointing', 'Flank-touching' with the bill and the spreading of the wings are involved in courtship. These displays are typically accompanied by a variety of calls. This form of communal dancing usually takes place on land but on occasion it can occur at sea. Royal albatross are usually silent at sea but can become rather vocal when competing for food, especially around fish boats. Croaking, shrieking, and gargling sounds are the most common sounds made during competition for food. As a threat to intruders, a highly characteristic rattling sound can be produced by clappering the bill quickly and repeatedly. /=\

Royal Albatross Mating, Reproduction and Offspring

Royal albatrosses engage in seasonal breeding and breed every other year. The breeding season begins in October Without fail, only one egg is laid. Eggs weigh between 205 to 487 grams, about five to 11 percent of the body weight of the mother. The average time to hatching is 79 days. Chicks have white down and their coloration is similar to that of adults. The average fledging age is 240 days. At this time chicks simply flies off on their own. Females and males reach sexual maturity at 9 to 11 years. [Source: Jason LaGosh, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Royal albatross are monogamous (have one mate at a time) and pair for life. 'Divorce' is unusual and under normal conditions only occurs after several failed breeding attempts, typically only death splits a pair. Young are altricial. This means that young are born relatively underdeveloped and are unable to feed or care for themselves or move independently for a period of time after birth. Pre-birth protection and pre-weaning provisioning and protecting are done by females and males.

According to Animal Diversity Web: Royal albatross have extensive and varied courtship displays that include actions like 'Bill-circling', 'Sky-pointing', 'Flank-touching' with the bill, and full spreading of the wings. In many cases, these rituals are done and a pair is formed in the season prior to breeding. An elaborate courtship is unnecessary for birds that have bred together in the previous year. Previously mated pairs usually use the same nest-site as the year before. Typically, the male arrives a few days before the female. A few greeting ceremonies are performed upon the arrival of the female, and shortly thereafter, they breed. Breeding is biennial (occurs every two years), due in part to the long incubation period. As a result, there is no replacement egg laying, forcing a pair to wait until the following season to re-nest if their egg is lost. /=\

After arriving to the nest-site first, the male defends the territory against other males and rebuilds or starts building a new nest while he waits for his partner. When the female arrives a few days later, the birds briefly display then copulate. Immediately afterwards, both return to sea where they feed and begin to build up a reserve of food. Both birds return to the nest shortly before the egg is laid. The female lays the egg then immediately retreats to the sea.

The male is left to incubate the egg until the female returns, sometimes leaving the male without food or water for two to three weeks. When the female returns to the nest, the male leaves to find food and regain his strength. This pattern continues until the egg hatches and the chick no longer needs to be brooded, this usually takes six weeks. At this point, both parents leave to find food but return daily to feed their chick a meal of partly digested fish, squid, and stomach oil that adults produce during the ordinary digestion of their food. The oil is rich in fats and helps provide the nutrients necessary for the chick to grow despite long spans without food. The growing chick wanders around the nest-site between visits, but must return to the nest to be fed. After a few brief failures, the chick simply flies away to start life on its own./=\

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons, NOAA

Text Sources: Animal Diversity Web (ADW) animaldiversity.org ; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) noaa.gov ; Wikipedia, National Geographic, Live Science, BBC, Smithsonian, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Reuters, Associated Press, Lonely Planet Guides and various books and other publications.

Last Updated May 2023

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Wandering Albatross

These remarkably efficient gliders, named after the Greek hero Diomedes, have the largest wingspan of any bird on the planet

Region: Antarctica

Destinations: Bouvet Island, Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia

Name : Wandering Albatross, Snowy Albatross, White-winged Albatross ( Diomedea exulans )

Length: Up to 135 cm.

Weight : 6 to 12kg.

Location : All oceans except in the North Atlantic.

Conservation status : Vulnerable.

Diet : Cephalopods, small fish, crustaceans.

Appearance : White with grey-black wings, hooked bill.

How do Wandering Albatrosses feed?

Wandering Albatrosses make shallow dives when hunting. They’ll also attempt to eat almost anything they come across and will follow ships in the hopes of feeding on its garbage. They can gorge themselves so much that they become unable to fly and just have to float on the water.

How fast do Wandering Albatrosses fly?

Wandering Albatrosses can fly up to 40 km per hour.

What are Wandering Albatross mating rituals like?

Wandering Albatrosses mature sexually around 11 years of age. When courting, the male Wandering Albatross will spread his wings, wave his head around, and rap his bills against that of the female while making a braying noise. The pair will mate for life, breeding every 2 years. Mating season starts in early November with the Albatrosses creating nests of mud and grass on one of the Sub-Antarctic islands. The female will lay 1 egg about 10 cm long, sometime between the middle of December and early January. Incubation takes around 11 weeks, the parents taking turns. Once the chick is born the adults switch off between hunting and staying to care for the chick. The hunting parent returns to regurgitate stomach oil for the chick to feed on. Eventually both parents will start to hunt at the same time, visiting with the chick at widening intervals.

How long do Wandering Albatrosses live?

Wandering Albatrosses can live for over 50 years.

How many Wandering Albatrosses are there today?

There are about 25.200 adult Wandering Albatrosses in the world today.

Do Wandering Albatrosses have any natural predators?

Because they’re so big and spend almost all of their lives in flight, Wandering Albatrosses have almost no natural predators.

7 Wonderful Wandering Albatross Facts

• The Wandering Albatross is the largest member of its genus ( Diomedea ) and is one of the largest birds in the world.
• Wandering Albatrosses are also one of the best known and most studied species of birds.
• Diomedea refers to Diomedes, a hero in Greek mythology; of all the Acheaens he and Ajax were 2 nd only to Achilles in prowess. In mythology all of his companions turned into birds. Exulans is Latin for “exile” or “wanderer.”
• Wandering Albatrosses have the largest wingspan of any bird in the world today, stretching up to 3.5 metres across.
• Wandering Albatrosses are great gliders – they can soar through the sky without flapping their wings for several hours at a time. They’re so efficient at flying that they can actually use up less energy in the air than they would while sitting in a nest.
• Wandering Albatrosses have a special gland above their nasal passage that excretes a high saline solution. This helps keep salt level in their body, combating all the salt water they take in.
• Wandering Albatrosses get whiter the older they get.  

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When hearing the word  albatross , some might think of a really good round of golf (three under par). Like scoring an albatross in golf, sighting a long-lived master of flight in the Albatross family is a special treat. Chances are you haven’t seen one in person, but to put a name to this special type of seabird opens the door to their world.

Masters of Efficient Flight

There are 22 species of albatross that share the gift of efficient long-distance gliding flight. They are famously recognized by their lengthy wingspans with the Wandering Albatross holding the record at nearly 12 feet. These remarkable wingspans are vital for a lifetime at sea. With the help of air currents and temperature changes, these wings are able to provide enormous amounts of lift; albatross can spend hours in flight without rest or a single flap. Their flying abilities allow albatross to journey thousands of miles across open oceans.

Many people view their elders and put some thought into what those eyes have seen over a lifetime; what experiences that person has had, or wisdom and knowledge they’ve picked up through the years. These same thoughts could be applied when looking into the eyes of an albatross. Albatross can live decades and spend most of their long lives at sea. When an albatross encounters a fishing vessel or is counted on the breeding grounds, these birds may be decades older than the people studying these magnificent gliders. It could be safe to assume that an adult albatross knows their way around the seas better than the career fisherman or woman they are following.

Throughout history, humans have shared the seas with these seabirds. Many sailors recognize that albatross will follow their vessels, looking for an easy meal. Interactions, intentional or accidental, have resulted in the near-extinction of some species of albatross. Conservation efforts have been put in place by multi-nation partnerships, which have contributed to success in rising numbers of albatross seen in the Pacific Ocean.

Albatrosses in Alaska

Alaska is within the range of Short-tailed, Laysan and Black-footed Albatross which are commonly seen at-sea. These birds take to land to breed on ocean islands, including the world’s largest albatross colony on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge .

Short-tailed Albatrosses

This endangered species breeds primarily on two remote islands in the western Pacific with the majority (~85%) breeding on Torishima, Japan (an active volcano in the Izu Island Group, northwest of Taiwan). From 2008 to 2012 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Japanese partners at the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology worked together to establish a third breeding colony by translocating chicks from Torishima to a historic breeding location on the island of Mukojima. Recently, short-tailed albatrosses have also successfully bred on Midway Atoll.

Short-tailed Albatrosses generally head toward their feeding grounds around April and May, but have been known to make the long journey into Alaskan waters just to feed and return to their nest. They have been seen feeding along shelf breaks in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, along the Aleutian Islands, and southeast Alaska. They also occur along the Pacific coasts of Canada and the United States including waters along Washington, Oregon, and California.

Short-tailed Albatross follow fishing vessels and are sometimes hooked or entangled in longline fishing gear and drowned. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been working with the commercial fishing industry, Washington Sea Grant, and National Marine Fisheries Service to minimize take of this endangered seabird. Through this collaborative conservation effort, a type of seabird avoidance technology called “streamerlines” was developed to reduce the bycatch of albatrosses.

Streamerlines create a visual barrier that keeps seabirds away from the baited hooks. In Alaska, streamerlines deployed on fishing vessels has led to a major reduction in the bycatch of albatrosses. Fishermen who have used streamerlines to ward off seabirds say there is also a financial benefit: the streamer lines keep seabirds from swiping their bait, saving them money in the long run.

From near extinction at the turn of the 20th century, to being listed as endangered throughout its range in 2000, the population of short-tailed albatross continues to grow with a current estimate of 7,365 individuals and a population growth rate of 8.9%. This is something to celebrate.

Black-footed Albatross

Unlike the Short-Tailed Albatross, the Black-footed Albatross is not currently listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Black-Footed Albatross are only found in the Pacific Ocean with breeding populations located on the Hawaiian and Japanese islands. Breeding occurs from late fall to mid-summer and involves a colorful display of head bobs, wing flaps, and foot stomps. If you have not witnessed a Black-Footed Albatross mating dance, that should be your next internet search as it is a sight to see. Black-footed Albatross, like other albatross species, are thought to mate for life but will find a new mate if their partner disappears or passes away.

After breeding these seabirds can be seen in the North Pacific where they feed on fish, squid, and crustaceans. Like other albatross species, these birds can also be seen tailing ships for easy meals and have sometimes become victims to accidental entanglement into fishing equipment at sea. They too have benefited from Short-tailed Albatross conservation efforts via reduced accidental bycatch.

Laysan Albatross

One of the easier identifiable albatross seen in the seas surrounding Alaska is the Layson Albatross. These seabirds are generally smaller in size when compared to other albatross sharing its range, but is most noticeably different by its white belly and head that is often referred to as “gull-like”. Add in a gray-brown wings with white undersides and a dark tail and you’ve got yourself a Laysan Albatross.

Laysan Albatross are more commonly seen out at sea away from North American shores. 97.7% of the population call the northwestern Hawaiian Islands home during the breeding season (late fall to mid-summer) before moving north through the Pacific eventually making their way to Alaskan fishing regions. For those of you traveling through the southwest, don’t be too surprised to see one of these seabirds overhead, they’ve been known to wander inland during their migration north.

These seabird’s have a diet consisting of squid, fish, crustaceans and flying fish eggs. They primarily feed at night. In regards to fishing bycatch, this could be beneficial or negative depending on fishing operation times and the effectiveness and use of mitigating equipment such as streamers at night. Like other albatross, Laysan Albatross sometimes fall victim to fishing equipment such as baited lines and driftnets. They have also benefited from conservation efforts to reduce seabird bycatch during fishing operations. Fishing bycatch, however, is not the only issue that Laysans and other sea life must face, plastics and debris scattered through the world’s oceans are also part of this seabird’s diet, which in many cases can prove to be fatal.

A note on plastic pollution:  Be Part of the Solution

Like many birds, albatross can fall victim to plastic pollution that makes its way to sea. Because they feed along the surface on squid, krill, fish eggs and other items, albatrosses often accidentally swallow floating plastic. This becomes a problem when their stomach becomes impacted and full of plastic resulting in lack of nutrition from natural prey. On the breeding grounds, baby albatrosses suffer from a diet of this plastic trash brought in by their parents from the ocean. Parents feed their chicks by regurgitating what they’ve found out at sea. It’s estimated that adult albatrosses unwittingly bring back thousands of pounds of marine debris back to places like Midway atoll every year. Dead chicks that have starved due to plastic ingestion can be found on the breeding grounds and are testament to this global problem.One way you can make a small difference is picking up plastic trash before it makes its way into rivers and eventually to sea.

You can help albatross and all seabirds by recycling as much or your plastic as possible, saying ‘no’ to single use plastic, using a re-usable water bottle, bringing re-usable bags to the grocery store. We can all do our part to help make the oceans safe for all birds and ensure that the graceful flight of the albatross can be witnessed by generations to come.

In Alaska we are shared stewards of world renowned natural resources and our nation’s last true wild places. Our hope is that each generation has the opportunity to live with, live from, discover and enjoy the wildness of this awe-inspiring land and the people who love and depend on it. Compiled by Kristopher Pacheco, Alaska Digital Media Assistant for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with Katrina Liebich and staff from Migratory Birds Management and Ecological Services. For this article and others, follow us on Medium .

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• Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are a group of large seagoing birds in the Diomedeidae family. Scientists recognize 22 different species of Albatross. Sadly, every single species is in danger of extinction to some degree. In fact, the IUCN lists two species as Critically Endangered, the Tristan Albatross and the Waved Albatross . Read on to learn about the animal .

Description of the Albatross

These birds are incredibly large, and have immense wingspans. The largest species, the wandering Albatross , has a wingspan of 12 ft. across! For birds with such large wings, they are surprisingly lightweight.

At their heaviest, most Albatrosses weigh no more than 25 lbs. or so. This is because they are perfectly adapted for aerodynamic ability, and the less you weigh, the easier it is to fly.

Interesting Facts About the Albatross

Because they are so large, it is a small wonder that these birds have attracted the attention of humans for centuries. Learn more about what makes these imposing seabirds so unique below.

• Not Just Big Birds – Albatrosses are not only incredibly large birds, but they are the largest in the world. Well … not in weight, but in wingspan. They have the longest wingspan of any living bird today! Several species of pelican are also near the top of the list, as well as the Andean condor .
• True Seabirds – The many different species of Albatrosses all share a similar trait. These birds rarely come ashore. In fact, the only time they ever return to land is to reproduce. In fact, before they are old enough to breed, some birds might not step foot on land for up to 10 years!
• Long Wings and Long Lives – Not only do these birds have incredibly long wings, but they also live incredibly long lives. In fact, they have the longest life of any wild bird. Though some parrots surpass their longevity in zoos, Albatrosses hold the record for the oldest wild bird.
• Wisdom of the Albatross – A Laysan Albatross, called Wisdom, is at least 63 years old, and likely as old as 68! Researchers banded her in 1956, and scientists estimate that she was 5 years old when the band was placed. Amazingly, she has raised a chick every year since 2006!

Habitat of the Albatross

Even though there are many different species of Albatross, these birds all share the same habitat – the sea! All species spend most of their lives on or above the ocean, and only come to shore when they are ready to breed.

Most species prefer to feed in exceptionally deep areas, though they cannot dive very far below the surface. They rarely hunt for fish in oceans shallower than 3,000 ft. deep.

Distribution of the Albatross

These birds live in two wide bands across the open ocean of the southern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere, with the exception of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The vast majority of species live to the south, primarily between Antarctica and the southern coasts of South America, Africa, and Australia. There are several species that live in the northern Pacific Ocean, from the west coast of North America to the east coast of Asia.

Diet of the Albatross

As seabirds, Albatrosses primarily feed on fish and other sea creatures. They hunt the oceans for squid, octopus, fish, shrimp, krill, and more. Sometimes they also eat carrion, or the scraps left behind by other hunters.

Each species of Albatross hunts for different types of prey, and their target also depends on the season. While they are breeding, they can only eat what foods are close to their colonies.

Albatross and Human Interaction

Sadly, human activity has not been kind to these birds. In fact, there is not a single species of Albatross that is not in danger of extinction. Humans have hunted these birds, killed them for sport, or simply for entertainment, and harvested them for their feathers and their eggs.

Fishermen also accidentally kill Albatrosses in commercial longline fishing. There are many different threats to these birds, the extent of which varies by species.

Domestication

Humans have not domesticated Albatrosses in any way.

Does the Albatross Make a Good Pet

No, Albatrosses do not make good pets. These birds spend their lives soaring over the open ocean, and would not do well as a household pet. It is also illegal to harm, harass, capture, own, or kill them.

Albatross Care

These birds rarely end up in zoos, but those that do suffered severe injuries in some way. Sometimes an wounded animal cannot survive in the wild. Rather than euthanizing the animal, if they can still live a pain-free life, zoos will take it into their care.

Albatrosses in zoos, like the animals at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, help zookeepers teach visitors about their plight.

Behavior of the Albatross

Generally, behavior varies from species to species and individual to individual. As a whole, they spend long periods of time soaring on their wide wings. Scientists believe that they can sleep while they fly, but no one has ever seen a bird do this.

When they are ready to breed, large numbers of birds congregate in colonies on cliffs and bluffs near the ocean. Some colonies contain densely packed birds, while others are more spacious and loosely connected.

Reproduction of the Albatross

Each species of Albatross has different reproductive needs and strategies. Most birds do not begin to breed until they are several years old, and some species wait until they are up to 10 years old. They perform elaborate dances and courtship to choose mates. These mates return to the same colonies, and breed with the same mate, until one of them does not return.

Both the male and female incubate the eggs, usually for 2.5 to 3 months. Some species do not begin to fledge until they are 9 months old, and the rate varies by species.

Beliefs, Superstitions, and Phobias About the Albatross

Sailors are quite superstitious, and believe that it is bad luck to kill an Albatross. An old poem, describing a sailor who killed an Albatross and had to carry the dead bird around his neck, even created a metaphor about Albatrosses being a burden one must carry. Sadly, despite the myth, people still killed Albatrosses.

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The Ultimate Guide To Albatrosses: Everything You Need To Know!

Welcome to the ultimate guide to albatrosses. If you’re curious about these majestic creatures and want to learn more, then you’ve come to the right place.

Oftentimes, people are drawn to albatrosses because of their impressive wingspans and graceful flight patterns. But there is so much more to these birds than meets the eye.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of albatrosses and explore their unique characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. You’ll also discover how these incredible birds play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem and face various conservation challenges.

Whether you’re a bird enthusiast or simply intrigued by nature’s wonders, this guide will satisfy your curiosity and leave you with a newfound appreciation for albatrosses.

Table of Contents

What Is An Albatross?

An albatross is a  large seabird  known for its extraordinary flight capabilities. Belonging to the biological family Diomedeidae, albatrosses are renowned for their massive wingspan, which is the largest of any bird, allowing for impressive gliding over the ocean winds.

Flight Dynamics:

• Dynamic soaring:  Albatrosses excel in a flight technique known as dynamic soaring, which enables them to exploit wind gradients and ocean turbulence. This allows them to cover great distances while expending minimal energy.
• Lift generation:  By skillfully using the consistent oceanic winds and turbulence, albatrosses can generate lift to maintain flight without constantly flapping their wings.

Physical Characteristics:

• Wingspan:  Between 6.5 to 11 feet (1.98 to 3.35 meters)
• Weight:  Up to 22 pounds (10 kilograms)

Albatrosses spend most of their life at sea, landing only to breed. Their well-adapted body structure, with narrow and long wings along with strong, webbed feet, equips them for an aquatic life where they can float and navigate the vast oceans effortlessly.

How Many Types Of Albatross Are There?

Albatrosses, members of the family  Diomedeidae , are an iconic group of seabirds known for their impressive wingspans and ocean-spanning flights.

They are traditionally classified into different species across several genera, with the current consensus recognizing around  22 species .

Species Breakdown

The albatross family is commonly divided into four genera which are:

• Diomedea  (Great Albatrosses)
• Thalassarche  (Mollymawks)
• Phoebastria  (North Pacific Albatrosses)
• Phoebetria  (Sooty Albatrosses)

Notably, among these,  Diomedea  boasts the  Wandering Albatross , which has the distinction of being the bird with the largest wingspan—potentially reaching up to 3.7 meters.

Noteworthy Species

• Wandering Albatross ( Diomedea exulans ) : Noted for its massive wingspan and symbolically known as the mariner’s bird.
• Royal Albatross ( Diomedea epomophora ) : Another large albatross, with a wingspan nearly as grand as the wandering albatross.
• Laysan Albatross ( Phoebastria immutabilis ) : Recognizable by its white head and gray back, this species breeds mainly on the Hawaiian Islands.
• Black-footed Albatross ( Phoebastria nigripes ) : Dark in color, these birds are also Pacific natives, named for their distinctive dark feet.
• Short-tailed Albatross ( Phoebastria albatrus ) : Once hunted to near extinction, they are now one of the rarest albatross species.

What Does An Albatross Sound Like?

Albatrosses are not as vocal as some other bird species, yet they have distinct calls that serve various purposes, especially during mating and courtship rituals.

Mating Dance Sounds:  During their elaborate mating dances, albatrosses produce a range of unique sounds. These include guttural croaks, bill clapping , whistles, and grunts as part of their courtship display. Each species has variations in their call, but these sounds are integral to the mating ritual and help to establish and reinforce pair bonds.

Generic Sounds:

• Bill clapping

Courtship Sounds:

Albatrosses, especially in breeding colonies, their calls can differ slightly depending on the context and individual bird.

Communication at Sea:  Away from the breeding grounds, the albatrosses are much less vocal, reserving their energy for long-distance foraging trips over the ocean. When they do communicate at sea, it’s often a simple call to signal their presence to others nearby.

What Does An Albatross Look Like? What’s Their Wingspan?

Their wings are long and narrow, allowing them to glide over the ocean with minimal effort.

• Range : 6.5 to 11.5 feet (2 to 3.5 meters)
• Largest Recorded : Up to 12 feet

Feathers and Plumage:  Albatrosses have a predominantly white plumage, often with black or dark grey markings on the wings and back. Their plumage’s adaptation is vital for their long-duration flights.

Their feathers are specialized for withstanding harsh marine environments. With regular preening, they maintain the natural oils that waterproof their coat, crucial for their oceanic lifestyle.

When you see an albatross in flight, its impressive wingspan is immediately noticeable.

This expansive wingspan is essential for the bird’s dynamic soaring technique, which it uses to travel long distances over the sea with little energy expenditure. Keep in mind, each species of albatross has variations in size and plumage, displaying a diversity that is as vast as the oceans they traverse.

Where Are Albatrosses Most Commonly Found?

Albatrosses  are most frequently found in the  Southern Hemisphere , particularly across the southern parts of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.

Your chances of spotting these birds are high in places like the  remote islands  that dot these oceans, as albatrosses favor isolated environments away from the hustle and bustle of human activity.

• Habitat : These birds prefer the open ocean, using their enormous wingspans to glide over the waves with minimal effort. They come ashore only to breed, often on remote islands.
• Distribution : Albatrosses have established breeding colonies on islands such as  South Georgia , the  Falklands , and various islands in the sub-Antarctic region.
• Midway Atoll : Located near  Hawaii  in the North Pacific Ocean, it’s a critical habitat for the albatross, particularly the Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses.

In the Northern Hemisphere, they are typically found in the North Pacific, from  Monterey Bay to Japan, encompassing the vast expanse including the Bering Sea.

Hawaii serves as a home for nearly all the world’s Laysan Albatrosses and is a key site for observing these majestic seabirds.

• Remote Islands : They are often tied to lands that are far-flung from human civilization. These remote breeding grounds are essential for their continued survival, offering safety from predators during the critical nesting season.

Remember that your likelihood of encountering these birds at sea is high since they spend most of their life on the wing, covering vast distances in search of food.

What Do Albatrosses Symbolize?

Albatrosses, with their vast wingspans and ability to travel great distances, have long been symbols loaded with significance.

You might find these birds intriguing not only for their physical prowess but for their rich symbolic value in various cultures.

• Strength and Endurance : The albatross’s capacity to glide for hours without rest depicts  endurance . Historically, sailors saw the presence of an albatross as a sign of good fortune, associating these tenacious birds with guidance and hope on their long voyages.
• Freedom and Autonomy : With wings that can span up to 11 feet, albatrosses embody the essence of  freedom . They spend most of their life at sea, rarely setting foot on land, which underscores their association with  independence  and the ability to roam freely without bounds.

In literature, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” further entrenched the albatross in symbolism, albeit in a more complex way.

In this poem, the albatross starts as a good omen, only to become a burden when the mariner kills it, reflecting the weight of guilt and regret.

The symbolism of albatrosses also extends to  spiritual  and  totemic  realms, representing introspection and the journey of the soul.

When an albatross appears in your life, it may suggest that you appreciate your independence and ability to navigate life’s challenges with resilience.

What Is The Diet Of Albatrosses?

Albatrosses are carnivorous birds , and their diet primarily consists of marine life. As a soaring seabird, their ability to cover vast oceanic distances allows them to capitalize on abundant resources not readily available to other species.

Primary Food Sources

Fish  and  squid make up the bulk of their diet. They often feed on schooling fish or those near the surface, using your keen eyesight to spot prey from high above.

The  squid they consume are generally picked from the water’s surface, especially at night when these creatures come closer to the surface.

Opportunistic Feeding Habits

Albatrosses are also opportunistic feeders, meaning they’ll snatch up a variety of marine food sources as they become available:

• Crustaceans
• Euphausiids  (krill)

These are often smaller snacks that might complement their diet when larger meals are scarce.

Interaction With Humans

They have been known to follow fishing boats to feed on offal and discard, which sometimes puts them at risk of bycatch.

Salt Water Adaptation

Unique to seabirds, is an adaptation for managing salt water intake. They have specialized glands located above their nasal passages to excrete excess salt, which enables them to drink seawater and feed on salty marine organisms without harm.

Do Albatrosses Have Any Predators?

Albatrosses, with their grand wingspan and impressive size, may seem invincible in the vastness of the ocean. However, they do face threats from predators, primarily during their breeding season on land.

Adult albatrosses have the advantage due to their size and flight capabilities. At sea , predators are fewer, but they are not entirely without danger:

• Large fish : Occasionally, large predatory fish can snatch an unwary albatross from the surface of the water.
• Sharks : They can pose a threat to albatrosses that linger on the water for too long.

The real danger to albatrosses occurs on land, specifically concerning their eggs and chicks. Here is where most predation happens:

• Mice and rats : Invasive species like mice and rats can eat the eggs and attack chicks.
• Feral cats : They are known to prey on young albatrosses and can decimate populations.
• Southern giant petrels : These predators have been recorded killing nearly 100 Atlantic yellow-nosed albatrosses on Gough Island.

It is during the early life stages that albatrosses are most vulnerable:

Efforts to protect nesting sites on land are crucial for the survival of albatross populations.

Measures such as pest eradication and habitat conservation are key to safeguarding these magnificent birds for future generations to marvel at.

Where Do Albatrosses Nest?

Albatrosses, known for their impressive wingspan and ocean-spanning flights, select specific and often remote locations to construct their nests.

Primarily, albatrosses mate for life  and return to the same site year after year to breed.

They demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their partners and chosen nesting grounds, with these typically located on isolated islands.

Here’s a glance at their nesting preferences:

• Location : Remote islands and rugged coastlines, predominantly in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Environment : Places free from land predators, where they can safely lay their eggs and raise chicks.

Breeding season for albatrosses is a critical time. Starting around  November , these birds engage in detailed courtship rituals, signaling the beginning of an intricate breeding process where both partners share responsibilities.

• Nest Construction : Nests are often simple scrapes in the ground, lined with vegetation.
• Incubation : Both parents take turns  incubating  the single egg they lay, with incubation periods varying by species.

An example of an albatross’s fierce fidelity to nesting is  Wisdom , a Laysan albatross known as the oldest wild bird in the world, who has been returning to the same nesting site for over six decades.

Fun Fact : Albatross chicks can take up to six months before they fledge, relying heavily on their parents for food and protection during this time.

When Do Albatrosses Lay Eggs?

Albatrosses are remarkable for their breeding routines, which are strictly seasonal. These birds lay their eggs at specific times of the year, depending on the species.

• Laysan albatross : These birds generally begin their breeding season in November.

Most albatross species, including the Laysan, are known for laying a  single egg  per breeding season. If this egg is lost, no other eggs are laid until the next season.

Breeding typically takes place in colonies on remote islands, where each monogamous pair takes turns incubating their egg. Here, timing is crucial:

The incubation of the albatross egg is a long process, often extending upward of two months, and requires the tireless efforts of both parents.

Once the chick hatches, the parents continue to provide care, which can last over a year for some great albatrosses, like the wandering albatross.

It’s important for you to understand the dedication albatrosses have to their single egg.

This care is vital since their reproductive rate is low, and each egg represents a significant investment in their future population.

In essence, the timing of when albatrosses lay their eggs is as varied as the species themselves, yet it follows a predictable, yearly schedule adapted to their unique life cycle and the environments they inhabit.

How Can I Tell If An Albatross Is Male Or Female?

Determining the gender of albatrosses can be challenging, as males and females appear quite similar in plumage. However, subtle physical and behavioral traits can provide clues:

• Size : Generally, males are slightly larger than females in wingspan and bill length.
• Courtship Dance : During mating rituals, pay close attention to the style of the courtship dance. Males typically lead the dance with more pronounced movements.
• Vocalizations : Males and females may exhibit different vocal patterns while courting, although these differences can be subtle and require careful observation or audio analysis.

Physical Examination : In some cases, direct physical examination by experts is necessary to determine the sex as the external differences are not distinct.

Experts have noted that albatrosses often form long-term pair bonds. Additionally:

• Mate Selection : When observing albatrosses in their natural habitat, look for paired behavior as mates often perform synchronized activities.

Female-Female Pairs : Interestingly, in populations with skewed sex ratios, you may encounter female-female pairs, highlighting the complexity of sex identification solely based on behavior.

To conclusively determine the sex of an albatross, DNA testing or observation of reproductive behavior by experienced researchers is often required.

How Long Do Albatrosses Live?

As one of the longest-living bird species, albatrosses often reach ages that dwarf those of other birds.

Typically, an albatross has a life expectancy of around 30 years  in the wild. It’s not uncommon for these birds to surpass this age, with some individuals even living into their 50s or 60s.

Their long lives are partially attributed to their late onset of breeding maturity, which means they spend a significant portion of their life at sea before returning to land to reproduce.

• Sexual Maturity:  Albatrosses reach breeding age usually between 5 and 10 years.
• Life at Sea:  After their initial fledging, albatrosses will often spend continuous years over the open ocean.

Due to their lengthy lifespans, albatrosses have fewer offspring compared to other birds, often raising only one chick every couple of years.

This slow reproduction rate makes their populations particularly vulnerable to threats; thus conservation efforts are key to ensure these seabirds remain a part of your world’s natural heritage.

5 Interesting Facts About Albatrosses

• Monumental Wingspan : Albatrosses possess the largest wingspan of any living bird. The Wandering Albatross, in particular, can boast a wingspan of up to 11 feet 4 inches, enabling them to glide over the ocean with minimal effort.
• Impressive Fidelity : Albatrosses are known for their strong pair bonds. Once they find a mate, they tend to stick with them. Their fidelity is so revered that their ‘divorce rate’ is much lower in comparison to other birds. Albatrosses engage in elaborate mating dances, which help strengthen these bonds.
• Sleeping on the Wing : These birds have the astounding ability to sleep while flying. This adaptation is pivotal considering the vast distances they cover across the ocean. Their sleep is more like power naps which do not interfere with their travel or ability to remain airborne.
• Conservation Status : Many albatross species are facing threats that put them on various levels of endangerment, from vulnerable to critically endangered. Bycatch, which is the unintended capture by fishing vessels, significantly impacts albatross populations. Organizations such as the Albatross Task Force are dedicated to preventing these incidents and reducing the risk of extinction.
• Loyal to Location : Albatrosses exhibit strong site fidelity, often returning to their birthplace to breed. For instance, the  Phoebastria immutabilis  (Laysan Albatross) primarily nests in Hawaii and other islands in the North Pacific. These seabirds generally gather in large colonies, which can resemble a bustling, squawking ‘flock band’.

By understanding their behavior and the challenges they face, you can better appreciate the importance of conservation efforts for these magnificent birds.

Albatrosses

An albatross aloft can be a spectacular sight. These feathered giants have the longest wingspan of any bird—up to 11 feet! The wandering albatross is the biggest of some two dozen different species. Albatrosses use their formidable wingspans to ride the ocean winds and sometimes to glide for hours without rest or even a flap of their wings. They also float on the sea's surface, though the position makes them vulnerable to aquatic predators. Albatrosses drink salt water, as do some other sea birds.

These long-lived birds have reached a documented 50 years of age. They are rarely seen on land and gather only to breed, at which time they form large colonies on remote islands. Mating pairs produce a single egg and take turns caring for it. Young albatrosses may fly within three to ten months, depending on the species, but then leave the land behind for some five to ten years until they themselves reach sexual maturity. Some species appear to mate for life.

Albatrosses feed primarily on squid or schooling fish, but are familiar to mariners because they sometimes follow ships in hopes of dining on handouts or garbage. Albatrosses have a special place in maritime lore and superstition, most memorably evoked in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner .

Relationship with Humans

Some albatross species were heavily hunted for feathers that were used as down and in the manufacture of women's hats. The Laysan albatross was important to the indigenous hunters of the northern seas. Excavations of Aleut and Eskimo settlements reveal many albatross bones and suggest that the birds were an important part of human diet in the region.

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