is the wandering albatross a carnivore

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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.

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.

Photo Gallery

Photo Credits

Under License

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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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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• 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 March 31, 2024 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Diomedea_exulans/

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Wandering Albatross

Diomedea exulans.

The snowy albatross, also known as the white-winged albatross or goonie, is a majestic seabird belonging to the Diomedeidae family. It is recognized for its impressive wingspan, which is the largest of any living bird, and its predominantly white plumage that becomes whiter with age. The snowy albatross is distinguished by its large pink bill and feet, and the males exhibit whiter wings than females.

Identification Tips

Adult snowy albatrosses have white bodies contrasted with black and white wings. The wings of males are predominantly white, with only the tips and trailing edges presenting as black. This species is the whitest within its complex, with others showing more brown and black on the wings and body. A salt gland above their nasal passage helps them excrete excess salt due to their oceanic diet.

The snowy albatross boasts a wingspan that can exceed 3.5 meters (11 feet), with an average span of around 3.1 meters (10 feet 2 inches). Body length ranges from 107 to 135 cm (3 feet 6 inches to 4 feet 5 inches), with females being slightly smaller than males. Adults typically weigh between 5.9 to 12.7 kg (13 to 28 lb).

Distribution and Habitat

This bird has a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean and breeds on islands such as South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, Prince Edward, and Macquarie. It is also seen feeding year-round off the coast of New Zealand and is known for its extensive flights, sometimes circumnavigating the Southern Ocean three times in a year.

The snowy albatross is a far-ranging bird, spending most of its life in flight and landing only to breed and feed. It is capable of gliding for hours without flapping its wings, thanks to its large wingspan.

Song & Calls

During courtship, snowy albatrosses engage in a variety of displays, including spreading their wings, head-waving, bill-rapping, and producing a range of vocalizations from screams and whistles to grunts and bill clapping.

Snowy albatrosses are monogamous, often mating for life, and breed biennially. They lay a single white egg with a few spots in a large grassy nest. Incubation takes about 11 weeks, with both parents sharing the responsibility. The chicks are nurtured by both parents, who take turns foraging for food.

Similar Species

The snowy albatross is part of the wandering albatross species complex, which includes the Tristan albatross and the Antipodean albatross. It can be distinguished from its relatives by its whiter plumage and larger size.

Diet and Feeding

These birds feed on cephalopods, small fish, and crustaceans, often foraging further out in the open ocean than other albatross species. They are known to follow ships and can make shallow dives to capture their prey.

Conservation Status

The IUCN lists the snowy albatross as vulnerable. Threats include longline fishing and pollution. Conservation measures have been implemented in some regions to reduce bycatch and protect their breeding grounds.

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Wandering Albatross

Table of Contents

Scientific Classification

Table of content.

Physical Description

Size : They measure at around 3 ft 6 in to 4 ft 5 in (1.07-1.35 m).

Weight : Adult wandering albatrosses typically weigh between 13 and 28 lbs (5.9-12.7 kg).

Color : The plumage for juveniles is chocolate brown which becomes whiter with age. The wings in adults are white with black around the tips while the female’s wings have more black on them. The bill and feet are pink.

Sexual Dimorphism : Males are a little bit larger than females.

Wingspan : They have the largest wingspan among birds , measuring at around 8 ft 3 in to 11 ft 6 in (2.51-3.5 m).

The two recognized subspecies of the wandering albatross are D. e. exulans (nominate subspecies) and the D. e. gibsoni (also known as Gibson’s albatross).

Distribution

The breeding range for the wandering albatross includes South Georgia Island, Crozet Islands, Prince Edward Islands, Kerguelen Islands, and Macquarie Islands. It also feeds around the Kaikoura Peninsula on New Zealand’s South Island east coast.

They inhabit subantarctic islands with tussock grass, sedges, shrubs, mosses and peat soils. They nest on ridges, plateaus, valleys, and plains.

Wandering Albatross Pictures

Wandering Albatross Images

• These birds spend most of their lives in the air, traveling long distances.
• They live in small groups during their forages in the sea.
• They become rather social during the breeding season.
• They are territorial towards members of the same sex during the breeding season and defend their nesting area with vocalizations.

Wandering albatrosses eat fish, squids, and crustaceans.

Mating & Reproduction

These birds mate for life and mate every other year. Males reach the breeding grounds before females and locate the same nesting sites they had used the previous season, although they may also choose to build new ones. Females arrive after males. The breeding season usually occurs between December and March. The female lays one egg per breeding season which is then incubated for 74-85 days. Both parents take part in incubation.

The hatchling stays in its parents’ care for up to 9 months of age, after which they achieve independence. They reach sexual maturity by the time they are 9 years old.

Wandering Albatross Chick

Wandering Albatross Size

Wandering albatrosses can live for up to 50 years.

Sounds & Communication

These birds communicate by croaking, bill-clapping, bill-touching, trumpeting, and pointing towards the sky with their bills.

Adaptations

• The large wings of the wandering albatross help them fly for vast distances over several hours without flapping. For every meter of drop in altitude, they can travel 22 meters in distance.
• The salt gland at the nasal passage helps them desalinate their bodies of the excess salt they come in contact with because of their oceanic lifestyle.
• They can dive up to a meter into the ocean to catch their prey. They, however, prefer to catch the fish from the surface of the ocean.

The Wandering Albatross

Wandering Albatross Flying

Adult wandering albatrosses have no predators. Eggs, hatchlings, and juveniles, on the other hand, are preyed upon by sheathbills and skuas. In addition to these two, several introduced animals like goats, pigs, rats, mice, and cats also eat the chicks and eggs.

IUCN Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the wandering albatross under their ‘Vulnerable’ category.

Interesting Facts

• The wandering albatross is the biggest bird in its genera and one the largest in the world.
• One individual lived to be 60 years old in New Zealand. She was named ‘Grandma.’
• Another banded individual was recorded to have traveled 3,730 miles in just 12 days.

Wandering Albatross Wingspan

Wandering Albatross Bird

• http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/wandering-albatross.php https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/wildlife/wandering-albatross https://beautyofbirds.com/wandering-albatrosses/ http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Diomedea_exulans/#ff4ee5a1ac2a7a07a049350b7c9b6fbc https://www.britannica.com/animal/albatross#ref243427 http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22698305/0

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Wandering albatross.

A wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird, 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) tip to wing tip.

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• Kingdom Animals
• Class Birds (10,906 sp)
• Order Procellariiformes – Albatrosses & petrels (140 sp)
• Family Diomedeidae – Albatrosses (15 sp)
• Genus Diomedea – Great albatrosses (2 sp)
• Species Wandering albatross

Wandering albatross

The humongous bird with the largest wing span of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) – seems straight out of a fantasy movie

These magnificent seabirds are renowned for their effortless gliding abilities, often seen soaring gracefully over vast expanses of water in search of food.

Despite their elegant aerial maneuvers, wandering albatrosses are not without their challenges when it comes to takeoff and landing. Their large wings and heavy bodies make these maneuvers somewhat clumsy, particularly in strong winds or turbulent conditions. However, once airborne, they are masters of flight, capable of covering immense distances with minimal effort.

Wandering albatrosses are opportunistic feeders, preying primarily on fish and squid . They are known to scavenge for food near fishing vessels, eagerly consuming any scraps or discarded catch they encounter. However, their voracious appetites can sometimes lead to overindulgence, resulting in a temporary inability to fly due to the weight of their full stomachs.

One of the most remarkable aspects of wandering albatross behavior is their lifelong monogamous partnerships. These birds form strong bonds with their mates, often lasting for decades. During the breeding season, pairs engage in elaborate courtship displays, including synchronized dances and vocalizations, to reaffirm their commitment to each other.

Breeding colonies of wandering albatrosses are typically found on remote islands in the Southern Ocean, where they nest on open ground or cliffs overlooking the sea. Females lay a single egg, which both parents take turns incubating until it hatches. The chick is then cared for by both parents, who work together to provide it with food and protection until it is ready to fledge.

As wandering albatrosses age, they undergo a transformation in their appearance. The distinctive black markings on their plumage fade over time, giving way to a predominantly white coloration. Despite this change, these birds remain as magnificent as ever, embodying the wisdom and resilience acquired over their long lives.

Distribution

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Colony

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No

30% decline over the past 70 years

Snowy albatross White-winged albatross Goonie

D. e.s exulans D. e. gibsoni

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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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Wandering Albatrosses, Snowy Albatrosses or White-winged Albatrosses

The Wandering Albatrosses , Snowy Albatross , or White-winged Albatross , Diomedea exulans , is a large seabird from the family Diomedeidae which has a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean.

It was the first species of albatross to be described and was long considered the same species as the Tristan Albatross and the Antipodean Albatross . In fact, a few authors still consider them all subspecies of the same species.

The SACC has a proposal on the table to split this species, and BirdLife International has already split it. Together with the Amsterdam Albatross , it forms the Wandering Albatross species complex.

Table of Contents

The Wandering Albatross is the largest member of the genus Diomedea (the great albatrosses ), one of the largest birds in the world, and is one of the best-known and studied species of bird in the world.

The Wandering Albatross was first described as Diomedea exulans by Carolus Linnaeus, in 1758, based on a specimen from the Cape of Good Hope.

The wandering Albatross has two sub-species as follows

• Diomedea exulans exulans
• Diomedea exulans gibsoni

The Gibsoni subspecies nests on the Azores and Marion Island.

Description

The Wandering Albatrosses has the largest wingspan of any living bird, with a wingspan between 251–350 cm (8.2–11.5 ft). The longest-winged examples verified have been about 3.7 m (12 ft), but probably apocryphal reports of as much as 5.3 m (17 ft) are known.

As a result of its wingspan, it is capable of remaining in the air without beating its wings for several hours at a time (travelling 22 m for every meter of drop). The length of the body is about 107–135 cm (3.5–4.4 ft) with females being slightly smaller than males, and they weigh typically from 6.25–11.3 kg (13.8–24.9 lb).

Immature birds have been recorded weighing as much as 16.1 kg (35 lb) during their first flights.

The plumage varies with age, with the juveniles starting chocolate brown. As they age they lose their color and get whiter. The adults have white bodies with black and white wings.

Males have whiter wings than females with just the tips and trailing edges of the wings black. They also show a faint peach spot on the side of the head.

The Wandering Albatrosses is the whitest of the Wandering Albatross species complex, the other species having a great deal more brown and black on the wings and body as breeding adults, very closely resembling immature Wandering Albatrosses. The large bill is pink, as are the feet.

They also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.

They are a group bird and have a large range of displays from screams and whistles to grunts and bill clapping. When courting they will spread their wings, wave their heads, and rap their bills together, while braying. They live for about 23 years.

They are night feeders and feed on cephalopods, small fish, and crustaceans and on animal refuse that floats on the sea, eating to such excess at times that they are unable to fly and rest helplessly on the water. They are prone to following ships for refuse. They can also make shallow dives.

Reproduction

The Wandering Albatrosses breeds every other year. At breeding time they occupy loose colonies on isolated island groups in the Southern Ocean.

They lay one egg that is white, with a few spots, and is about 10 cm (3.9 in) long. They lay this egg between 10 December and 5 January, in their nests, which is a large bowl built of grassy vegetation and soil peat, that is 1 metre wide at the base and half a metre wide at the apex.

Incubation takes about 11 weeks and both parents are involved. They are a monogamous species, usually for life. Adolescents return to the colony within 6 years; however, they won’t start breeding until 11 to 15 years. About 30% of fledglings survive.

The Wandering Albatross breeds on South Georgia Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Prince Edward Islands, and Macquarie Island, is seen feeding year round off the Kaikoura Peninsula on the east coast of the south island of New Zealand and it ranges in all the southern oceans from 28° to 60°.

Relationship with humans

Sailors used to capture the birds for their long wing bones, which they manufactured into tobacco pipe stems. The early explorers of the great Southern Sea cheered themselves with the companionship of the albatross in their dreary solitudes, and the evil fate of him who shot with his cross-bow the “bird of good omen” is familiar to readers of Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner .

The metaphor of “an albatross around his neck” also comes from the poem and indicates an unwanted burden causing anxiety or hindrance.

In the days of sail, it often accompanied a ship for days, not merely following it, but wheeling in wide circles around it without ever being observed to land on the water. It continued its flight, apparently untired, in tempestuous as well as moderate weather.

Conservation

The IUCN lists the Wandering Albatross as Vulnerable status. Adult mortality is 5% to 7% per year. It has an occurrence range of 64,700,000 km2 (25,000,000 sq mi), although its breeding range is only 1,900 km2 (730 sq mi).

In 2007, there were an estimated 25,500 adult birds, broken down to 1,553 pairs on South Georgia Island, 1,850 pairs on Prince Edward Island, 1,600 on Marion Island, 2,000 on Crozet Islands, 1,100 on the Kerguelen Islands, and 12 on Macquarie Island for a total of 8,114 breeding pairs.

The South Georgia population is shrinking at 1.8% per year. The levels of birds at Prince Edward and the Crozet Islands seem to be stabilizing although most recently there may be some shrinking of the population.

The biggest threat to their survival is long-line fishing; however, pollution, mainly plastics and fishing hooks, is also taking a toll.

The CCAMLR has introduced measures to reduce the bycatch of Albatrosses around South Georgia by 99%, and other regional fishing commissions are taking similar measures to reduce fatalities. The Prince Edward Islands are a nature preserve, and the Macquarie Islands are a World Heritage site. Finally, large parts of the Crozet Islands and the Kerguelen Islands are nature preserves.

Diomedea exulans can be broken apart into Diomedea which refers to Diomedes (= a hero in Greek mythology) whose companions turned to birds, and exulans or exsul which means an exile or wanderer referring to its lonely distant flights.

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The Biography of Albatrosses and Their Oceanic Realm

• February 21, 2024 February 20, 2024

With their majestic wingspans and graceful flight, Albatrosses are among the most iconic seabirds inhabiting the world’s oceans. 

Belonging to the family Diomedeidae, these remarkable birds are renowned for their ability to soar vast distances with minimal effort, utilizing dynamic soaring techniques to traverse the expansive ocean expanses where they spend most of their lives. 

Albatrosses are predominantly found in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in the open waters of the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic, and temperate regions. They exhibit a remarkable lifespan, with some species living for decades and even up to 60 years. 

These avian wonders play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, serving as indicators of ocean health and contributing to nutrient cycling through their feeding habits. 

However, albatross populations face numerous threats, including habitat degradation, pollution, and incidental bycatch, making their conservation important.

Physical Characteristics of Albatrosses

Identifying albatrosses can be captivating, as these majestic seabirds possess distinctive physical characteristics that set them apart from other avian species. 

Here are eight key points to consider when identifying albatrosses:

Large Size and Wingspan

Albatrosses are notably large birds, with wingspans that can exceed 11 feet (3.4 meters) in some species, making them one of the biggest flying birds on Earth. 

This impressive wingspan allows them to soar effortlessly over vast oceanic expanses for extended periods.

Long, Narrow Wings

Albatrosses have long, narrow wings perfectly adapted for gliding and dynamic soaring. These wings are significantly longer in proportion to their bodies compared to other seabirds, giving them a distinctive silhouette in flight.

White Plumage

Most albatross species have predominantly white plumage, contrasting sharply with the dark ocean waters below. 

Some species may have varying degrees of black or gray markings on their wings or backs, but the overall impression is luminous whiteness.

Yellow Bill and Tubular Nostrils

One of the most noticeable features of albatrosses is their large, hooked bills, which are usually yellow. 

Additionally, they have tubular nostrils located on either side of the bill, which are thought to aid in excreting excess salt ingested from seawater.

Webbed Feet

Albatrosses have webbed feet, adapted for swimming and aid in takeoff from the water’s surface. These feet are relatively small in proportion to their body size and are primarily used for steering while swimming.

Distinctive Flight Patterns

In flight, albatrosses exhibit a characteristic gliding motion, rarely flapping their wings except during takeoff and landing. They often soar low over the waves, effortlessly riding air currents with minimal effort.

Long, Streamlined Bodies

Albatrosses have sleek, streamlined bodies that minimize air resistance during flight. Their bodies are built for efficiency in the air, allowing them to cover vast distances with minimal energy expenditure.

Graceful Movements on Land

Despite their large size, albatrosses are surprisingly graceful on land, moving with a distinctive waddling gait. On solid ground, they may tuck their long wings close to their bodies, giving them a more compact appearance.

Identifying albatrosses involves observing a combination of physical characteristics, including their large size, yellow bill, webbed feet, distinctive flight patterns, streamlined bodies, and graceful movements both in the air and on land. 

These unique features make albatrosses unmistakable and fascinating subjects for birdwatchers and naturalists alike.

Taxonomy of Albatrosses

Here is a table that will showcase all the taxonomical details of Albatrosses:

The albatross family comprises several species with unique characteristics and distribution across the world’s oceans. Here’s a brief overview of the species mentioned:

Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)

Recognizable by its large size, white body, and pale yellow bill, the short-tailed albatross is one of the rarest and most endangered species. It inhabits the North Pacific Ocean and breeds on Torishima and the Senkaku Islands.

Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes)

Named for its dark feet, this species has a black back and wings with a white face and underparts. It nests primarily in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Japanese archipelago.

Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis)

The Laysan albatross is a familiar sight in the North Pacific with a striking appearance characterized by a white body, black wings, and a yellow-orange bill. It breeds primarily on islands such as Laysan and Midway Atoll.

Snowy Albatross (Diomedea exulans)

Also known as the wandering albatross, the snowy albatross is the largest of all albatross species. It has a white body with black wingtips and a pink bill with a distinctive hook. It ranges widely across the Southern Ocean.

Light-mantled Albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata)

This species is named for the pale gray mantle on its upperparts. It has a white head, neck, underparts, black flight feathers, and a dark bill. It breeds on islands such as South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris)

Recognizable by the dark eyebrow stripe above its eye, the black-browed albatross has a white body with dark upper wings and a yellow bill. It nests on islands in the Southern Ocean, including the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

Salvin’s Albatross (Thalassarche salvini)

Named after the English ornithologist Osbert Salvin, this species has a dark mantle and upper wings, a white face, throat, underparts, and a yellow-orange bill. It breeds on islands such as the Antipodes Islands and the Bounty Islands.

Chatham Albatross (Thalassarche eremita)

Endemic to the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, this species has a dark mantle and upper wings, a white face, throat, and underparts, and a yellow bill with a dark tip.

White-capped Albatross (Thalassarche steadi)

With a white cap on its head and a dark mantle, this species has a white face, throat, underparts, and a yellow-orange bill. It breeds on islands such as Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands.

Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos)

Found primarily in the South Atlantic Ocean, this species has a yellow bill with a black tip, a white face, throat, underparts, and dark upperparts. It breeds on islands such as Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha.

These albatross species play a unique role in marine ecosystems and face conservation challenges, including habitat loss, fisheries bycatch, and marine pollution. 

Conservation efforts are crucial to ensuring the survival of these magnificent birds for generations to come.

Common Food of Albatrosses

Albatrosses are primarily carnivorous seabirds with diverse diets that vary depending on their species and foraging habits. Familiar food sources for albatrosses include:

• Fish: Albatrosses feed on various fish species, including lanternfish, squid, and small pelagic fish like anchovies and sardines.
• Crustaceans: Some albatross species supplement their diet with crustaceans such as krill, shrimp, and crab larvae.
• Cephalopods: Squid and octopus are significant components of the albatross diet, providing valuable protein and nutrients.
• Offal and carrion: Albatrosses are opportunistic feeders and may scavenge offal from fishing vessels or carrion floating on the ocean surface.
• Flying fish: These agile birds are known to catch flying fish in mid-air as they leap from the water to escape predators.

Albatrosses are adept at foraging over vast oceanic expanses, using their keen eyesight and sense of smell to locate food sources efficiently.

Hunting Habit of Albatrosses

Albatrosses are highly skilled hunters, relying on their keen senses and efficient flight capabilities to locate and capture prey in the vast expanse of the open ocean. 

With their exceptional eyesight, these birds can scan the water surface from great heights, spotting potential prey such as fish, squid, and crustaceans. 

Once a target is identified, albatrosses use their impressive aerial agility to dive down and snatch prey from the water’s surface, often employing dramatic swoops and maneuvers to catch their elusive quarry.

Utilizing a combination of gliding and dynamic soaring techniques, albatrosses can cover large distances with minimal energy expenditure, allowing them to search for food over expansive oceanic regions for extended periods. 

Their hunting behavior is opportunistic, taking advantage of both natural prey concentrations and the presence of fishing vessels to scavenge for offal and discarded fish. 

Albatrosses Life History

With their majestic wingspans and graceful flight, Albatrosses are iconic seabirds known for their remarkable life history and importance in marine ecosystems. 

These fascinating birds exhibit a range of behaviors and adaptations that enable them to thrive in the harsh conditions of the open ocean. 

From their foraging habits to nesting behaviors, albatrosses possess a unique life history that reflects their specialized role in the marine environment.

Albatrosses are primarily carnivorous, feeding on diverse prey, including fish, squid, crustaceans, and occasionally carrion. They use their keen eyesight to spot prey from the air and employ aerial agility to capture it from the water’s surface.

Albatrosses are pelagic birds, spending the majority of their lives at sea and only returning to land to breed and rear their young. 

They inhabit many oceanic habitats, from the Southern Ocean around Antarctica to the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans.

Albatross species have specific ranges dictated by their breeding and foraging behaviors. Range maps illustrate the distribution of various species across oceans and continents, highlighting key breeding colonies and foraging grounds.

Albatrosses typically nest in large colonies on remote islands, often on cliffs or rocky outcrops, to avoid terrestrial predators. They construct simple nests of vegetation or soil where they lay a single egg.

Breeding behavior in albatrosses involves elaborate courtship displays, with pairs forming long-term bonds. Incubation and chick-rearing duties are shared between parents, with chicks fledging after several months.

Albatross populations are susceptible to various diseases, including avian pox and aspergillosis. These diseases can have significant impacts on individual birds and breeding colonies.

Treatment of albatross diseases often involves veterinary care provided by conservation organizations and research institutions. 

Interventions may include medication administration, wound treatment, and rehabilitation efforts for affected individuals.

Conservation

Albatrosses face numerous conservation challenges, including habitat loss, fisheries bycatch, pollution, and climate change. 

Conservation efforts focus on mitigating these threats through habitat protection, bycatch reduction technologies, and international agreements to safeguard albatross populations and their marine habitats.

The life history of albatrosses encompasses a range of fascinating behaviors and adaptations that highlight their importance as apex predators of the open ocean. 

Understanding and conserving these magnificent birds is essential for maintaining the health and integrity of marine ecosystems worldwide.

5 Fun Facts About Albatrosses

Albatrosses, with their impressive wingspans and remarkable abilities, are among the most fascinating seabirds in the world. Here are five fun facts about these magnificent birds:

• Dynamic Soaring Masters: Albatrosses are adept at dynamic soaring, a flying technique using wind gradients to gain energy and travel vast distances with minimal effort. They can cover thousands of miles without flapping their wings.
• Longest Wingspan in Birds: The wandering albatross holds the longest wingspan of any living bird, reaching up to 11 feet (3.4 meters). This remarkable wingspan allows them to glide effortlessly over the open ocean for extended periods.
• Monogamous Pairs: Albatrosses are known for their long-term monogamous relationships. Mated pairs often perform elaborate courtship rituals, including synchronized dances and bill-clacking displays, to reinforce their bonds.
• Incredible Lifespan: Some albatross species, such as the Laysan albatross, have astonishingly long lifespans, with individuals known to live for over 60 years. This longevity is crucial for successful breeding and maintaining populations over time.
• Marine Conservation Indicators: Albatross populations are essential indicators of marine ecosystem health. Their presence and breeding success reflect the abundance of prey species and the overall condition of oceanic habitats, making them invaluable for conservation efforts.

Wrapping Up

Albatrosses stand as magnificent ambassadors of the open seas, captivating us with their soaring flights, intricate courtship rituals, and vital role in marine ecosystems. 

As apex predators of the ocean, they command our admiration and concern. 

Yet, their future hangs precariously in the balance, threatened by habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change. We must rally together to protect these majestic birds and their oceanic habitats. 

By implementing effective conservation measures, supporting research initiatives, and raising awareness about the plight of albatrosses, we can ensure that these remarkable seabirds continue to grace our skies and inspire generations to come.

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• Wandering Albatross Facts

The sight of a flying wandering albatross overhead is spectacular. These large feathered birds have the largest wingspan of any birds - they can reach up to 11 feet! This makes the wandering albatross the largest bird of the albatross species. Their wings are adapted for floating on the sea surface and gliding for several hours without even flapping. They are among the few birds that survive on salty water. This is because they possess a salt gland on the top of the nasal passage that enables them to desalinate and control the salt level in their bodies.

5. Physical Description

The wandering albatross is a white bird with large wings that can span up to eleven feet. The feathers on their wings are black at the top and white at the bottom. The longest wingspan measured by was 12 feet by 2 inches, although unverified reports claim that a giant wandering albatross was once sported and could have a wingspan of up to 17 ft 5 inches. The long wingspan allows the bird to float in the air without the need to flap its wings for a couple of hours. Its average length is about four feett 5 inches, but the females are known to be slightly larger than their male counterparts. A young albatross is chocolate brown and turns white as it ages, and the features on top of their wings turn black as they approach adulthood. The wings of the male are more white than those of the males and also possess a faint peach spot on both sides of their heads. Their beaks are long, pink and hooked to allow them to pick and hold on to fish.

The wandering albatross feeds on small marine animals such as fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. However, they are known to follow boats and sea cruisers, hoping to feed on leftover handouts. They can spot a school of fish from above the water and make a shallow dive to catch its prey. After eating they are known to use their wings to float helplessly on the water, a situation that makes them prone and vulnerable to attack.

3. Habitat and Range

The wandering albatross is known to breeds in several islands north of the Antarctic Circle including the Crozet Islands, Prince Edward Islands, South Georgia Island and Macquarie Island. It feeds off the coast of New Zealand, preferably the Kaikoura Peninsula. They spend their time flying and only land to either feed or breed. They cover long distances across the southern oceans. One banded bird was reported to have traveled about 3,730 miles in just twelve days!

2. Behavior

The wandering albatross reaches sexual maturity at the age of 11 years. Wandering albatrosses mate for life. The albatross begins creating nests made of mud and grass in preparation for the mating in early November. The females begin laying 10cm long eggs between 10 December and 5 January. The incubation period is about eleven weeks, and parents take turns to care for the eggs. After hatching, the parents will also take turn switching off between caring for the chicks and hunting. They regurgitate stomach oil for the chicks to feed on. After a couple of weeks, both parents leave to hunt and take longer periods out in the sea before returning to their nests.

1. Other Important Wandering Albatross Facts

Relationship with Humans

Although their long wings benefit the birds immensely, thier wings historically have also made them target for sailors who captured the birds and used their wing bones to make tobacco pipes. Some early explorers of the southern seas found companionship in the birds during their solitary escapades and believed that whoever shot the bird would have an evil fate on him. The bird would accompany ships and boats for days without landing on either land or water. Tales from sailors narrate that the bird would fly tirelessly in both harsh and moderate weather. The Maori people of New Zealand baited the albatross and used them as a source of food and used their wing to create flutes, needles, and fish hooks.

The bird is at risk from human activities, particularly longline fishing. Due to their aggression during the hunting of fish, the birds get caught up in fishing lines while targeting baits means for fish. They drown while attempting to free themselves or are made easy prey by predators. The most recent statistics conducted in 2007 revealed that there were about 8,114 pairs of breeding birds compared to 8,500 pairs in 1998. Pollution, climate change, and loss of habitat are also major threats to the birds.

Conservation Efforts

The IUCN considers the wandering albatross to be a vulnerable species. Every year, about 7% of hatched birds die. The Crozet Islands, in the southern Indian Ocean, are home to the largest number of these birds, totaling about 2,000 breeding pairs. The South Georgia Island accounts for 1,553 pairs. Their population on the South Georgia Islands is shrinking at a rate of 1.8% per year although the number of birds at the Crozet Islands is considered to be stable for the most part. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has initiated measures to reduce accidental trapping of the birds in South Georgia by 99%, a measure that has also been adopted by other fishing organizations. The islands in which the birds occupy are protected reserve - the Macquarie Islands have been designated as a World Heritage site while the Crozet and Kerguelen are nature reserves. Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species also protect these birds from loss of habitat through human activities. Mitigation measures and the banning and relocation of fishing operations from the feeding grounds of these birds are some of the measures taken to recover their population.

• Environment

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• Text account
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• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: #http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of _the_WP15.xls# . Brooke, M. de L. 2004. Albatrosses and Petrels Across the World . Oxford University Press, Oxford. Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds . CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia. del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines . Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK. Robertson, C. J. R.; Nunn, G. B. 1998. Towards a new taxonomy for albatrosses. In: Robertson, G.; Gales, R. (ed.), Albatross biology and conservation , pp. 13-19. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton, Australia. SACC. 2005 and updates. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: #http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm# .

In 1998, the total annual breeding population was estimated at 8,500 pairs, equivalent to c. 28,000 mature individuals (Gales 1998). However, current estimates are 1,553 pairs on South Georgia (Georgias del Sur) (Poncet et al. 2006), 1,800 pairs on Prince Edward Island (2008, Ryan et al. 2009), c. 1,900 pairs on Marion Island (2013, ACAP 2009), c. 340 pairs on Iles Crozet (CNRS Chinzè Monitoring Database 2010), c. 354 pairs in Iles Kerguelen (CNRS Chinzè Monitoring Database 2011), and 4 pairs on Macquarie Island (DPIWPE 2010, unpublished data), making a total of c. 6,000 annual breeding pairs. Using the same ratio as Gales (1998) for estimating the number of mature individuals, this would equate to approximately 20,100 mature individuals.

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Diomedea exulans . Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/wandering-albatross-diomedea-exulans on 01/04/2024. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org on 01/04/2024.

A trio of ostriches run though the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana.

• YEAR OF THE BIRD

The Biggest Bird That Ever Lived and 5 More Bird Superstars

From the largest bird to the fastest moving bird, here are six stars of the bird world.

Birds come in all sorts of shapes and sizes: there are small birds and tall birds, short birds and big birds. Some birds can fly far distances across the Earth, and others don’t even have wings.

David Bird , an ornithologist who recently retired as director of McGill University’s Avian Science and Conservation Centre, has made it his life’s work to answer inquiries about these feathered flappers. Bird is the author of The Bird Almanac: A Guide to Essential Facts and Figures of the World’s Birds , and he’s been interested in the animals from a young age.

“I wanted to be a falconer but it just never worked. My mother wouldn’t let me have one in the house, and that was the end of that,” Bird says. As he got older he became interested in spreading the word about birds, particularly raptors and other birds of prey. But one day when out birding with a grad student, Bird spotted an Anna’s hummingbird , a stocky, 4-inch-long bird , and his perspective changed. (Related: read about how the world’s smallest birds survive the winter .)

“I was watching this little jewel in the sky and I was so impressed,” Bird says. With that, “I didn’t want to be a raptor bigot anymore.”

In lieu of denouncing so-called “raptor bigots,” here are six avian superstars among the birds of the world, past and present.

Year of the Bird

Ostrich: tall, dark, and heavy.

With its long neck and brown plumage, the ostrich is the tallest and heaviest bird on the planet . Females can grow up to six feet and weigh more than 200 pounds, while males can reach nine feet tall and roughly 280 pounds.

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Ostriches ’ eyeballs are nearly two inches across and bordered by a fan of sweeping lashes, making them the largest eyes of any land animal. The birds also have the largest eggs in the world. At more than three pounds, a single ostrich egg weighs as much as two dozen chicken eggs .

Because ostriches are so heavy, they can’t fly. Instead, the bird is built for speed—its powerful, two-toed legs can cover up to 16 feet in a single stride, making it the fastest running creature on two legs. Ostriches can sprint up to 43 miles per hour in short bursts, or maintain 31 mph speeds for longer periods of time.

Despite popular belief, ostriches don’t stick their heads in the sand when frightened. They can escape most situations by bolting, and use their flightless wings to keep their balance and change direction in motion. If that fails, ostriches will flop to the ground and remain still. From a distance, the bird’s light-colored neck and head blend in with its sandy savanna habitat, making it appear as though it has buried its head in the sand.

Great Bustard: Heavyweight Champion

Clocking in at around 35 pounds, the great bustard is often referred to as the “flying fortress ,” Bird says, because it’s the heaviest flying bird. The largest great bustard recorded tipped the scales at more than 46 pounds—that’s slightly heavier than a full-size border collie.

Stately with a heavy build and robust plumage, grey-and-brown great bustards resemble large geese , but with longer legs and straighter necks. Male bustards, which are about 30 percent heavier than females, are identifiable by their prominent chests and necks, and their cocked tails.

Great bustards make their habitats in open, flat grasslands and steppes of Europe and southern Russia. They are known to be silent but can occasionally let out gruff, nasal barks when fighting with each other during breeding season.

A male great bustard displays in Badajoz, Spain.

“[Their weight is] just an adaptation to the kind of lifestyle that they lead,” Bird says. “Any of these birds that spend a lot of their time on the ground have less hollow bones.”

Dromornis stirtoni : The Original Big Bird

Up to eight million years ago, Dromornis stirtoni roamed the subtropical open woodlands of modern-day Central Australia. Until it went extinct, D. stirtoni was the largest bird ever , towering nearly 10 feet tall and weighing more than 990 pounds, which is the equivalent of a grand piano.

D. stirtoni had large, broad beaks, stubby wings, and well-muscled hind legs ending in hoof-like toes. They were likely fast runners, and their ladle-shaped bodies were covered in a coat of feathers.

At one point, researchers believed that D. stirtoni was related to other flightless ratites, like emus and ostriches. But today, evidence shows they evolved from waterfowl, such as ducks and geese. For some time, the eating habits of D. stirtoni were a mystery, too.

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“They have this very powerful, sharp beak, and some scientists felt the bird was a carnivore,” Bird says. “But they looked at it and said the beak doesn’t have the specialization a carnivore would need.”

Today, most researchers believe the bird was a herbivore, munching mostly on tough-skinned fruits and seed pods.

Wandering Albatross: Frequent Flyer

Wandering albatrosses have the largest wingspan of any bird, at more than 11 feet across. Adults have white plumage, black wings, and webbed feet, along with tubular nostrils on either side of their hooked, pink bills. They weigh 17 to 25 pounds and they’re about three-and-a-half feet from bill to tail.

“[Wandering albatrosses are] best known for their huge flying capability,” Bird says. “They spend all their time in the Southern Ocean.”

Wandering albatross flaps on Prion Island in South Georgia.

Bird says the species has been known to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean three times each year, and according to some reports, a single bird once traveled as far as 3,728 miles—the distance from New York to Amsterdam—in 12 days.

Wandering albatrosses feed by swooping down and skimming the surface of the water, which is the same place where they roost after the sun goes down. They eat a diet of fish and squid, and will sometimes follow fishing boats to eat discarded fish waste. They’ve been known to gorge so much that occasionally, they have to float on top of the water and digest before they can fly again.

Giant Moa: Avian Skyscraper

For millions of years, the giant moa consisted of nine species of ostrichlike flightless birds native to New Zealand. While some species were about the size of a turkey, others stood as tall as 12 feet, Bird says, making it the tallest extinct bird.

A professor examines a reconstruction of an extinct giant moa.

Moas were mostly browsers and grazers, munching on seeds, fruits, leaves, and grasses. They were known to have swallowed four-inch stones to grind up their food, and females made one-egg nests in hollows in the ground. For millions of years, they marched through their habitat but suddenly went extinct about 600 years ago .

“When the Polynesians settled New Zealand, there were about 58,000 moas,” Bird says. But, “they went extinct around 1440. It’s just such a shame that they’re extinct.”

Peregrine Falcon: Speedy Feathers

The largest falcon over most of North America, peregrine falcons are crow-sized raptors with long, pointed wings and a long tail. They are the fastest moving bird in the world, but not to be confused with the fastest flying bird, Bird says. That title belongs to the red-breasted merganser.

“The peregrine falcon dive can go up to 320 kilometers [198 miles] an hour. It’s very, very fast,” Bird says.

A peregrine falcon hunts small birds at Los Islotes in Baja California.

Adult peregrine falcons sport a coat of blue-gray feathers with barred white underparts. Medium-sized flyers, they can grow 14 to 19 inches long and weigh roughly three pounds. The falcons have yellow feet with hooked claws and sharp beaks, which they use to hunt pigeons, shorebirds, and ducks. They sit on high perches, waiting for the perfect moment to swoop down after prey.

“They’ve got a little primordial tooth on their bills that distinguishes the falcons from the hawks,” Bird says.

At one point, peregrine falcon populations were threatened because chemicals such as DDT were making their eggs so fragile that they would crack when the birds went to sit on them. But today, with the passing of environmental regulations, peregrine falcon populations are thriving. They can be commonly seen on skyscrapers, water towers, cliffs, and other tall structures.

“Nowadays,” Bird says, “peregrine falcons have adapted to living in cities all over the world.”

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Snowy Albatross Diomedea exulans Scientific name definitions

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Revision notes.

Fernando Medrano revised and standardized the account with Clements taxonomy. Arnau Bonan Barfull curated the media. Jessica Kane generated the distribution map.

Diomedea exulans Linnaeus, 1758

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