The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans): The Giant of the Oceans
The Wandering Albatross, master of soaring flight and holder of the record for the largest wingspan in the animal kingdom.
Lord of the Southern Seas
Imagine this: you're on the deck of a ship, surrounded by the vastness of the Southern Ocean, when out of nowhere, a stunning Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) glides into view – it’s one of those moments that sends shivers down your spine. This isn’t just any bird; it feels like a mythical being come to life, perfectly representing the wild, boundless seas. For months at a time, it soars on the ocean winds without ever setting foot on land, turning even the fiercest storms into its own personal highway.
You could easily spend hours watching it effortlessly glide through the air without flapping its wings, covering distances that would leave any other creature on Earth gasping for breath. And then there’s that one jaw-dropping feature that makes even the most experienced naturalists do a double-take – something so extraordinary that it has rightfully earned this bird a spot among nature’s most remarkable champions.
A Record-Breaking Wingspan
The fame of the Wandering Albatross comes from its wings. It holds the absolute record for the largest wingspan of any living bird. On average, it measures around 3.1 meters (10.2 ft), but the largest individuals can reach and even exceed 3.5 meters (11.5 ft) from wingtip to wingtip. This exceptional morphology allows it to practice "dynamic soaring," a technique that uses the energy of the wind over the waves to glide enormous distances with almost no wing flapping.
Identifying the Wandering Albatross
Identifying this species is complex, as its plumage changes significantly with age.
The Juvenile: A young bird is almost entirely chocolate brown, except for its white face.
The Adult: Over the years (it can take more than 20!), the plumage gradually whitens. An old male Wandering Albatross is almost entirely white, with only the wingtips finely edged in black. Females generally retain slightly more dark markings than males.
The bill is large, pale pink, with a slightly hooked tip.
A Life Spent at Sea
The Wandering Albatross only comes ashore to breed on remote sub-Antarctic islands like South Georgia or the Crozet Islands. The rest of its life, which can exceed 50 years, is spent at sea. It feeds on squid, fish, and crustaceans that it catches at the water's surface, often at night. It is also known to follow fishing boats.
Explore Further
For detailed range maps, photos, and sound recordings of the Wandering Albatross, check out the species page on eBird, a global resource for birders.
Despite its majesty, the Wandering Albatross is a threatened species. The main threat it faces is longline fishing. Albatrosses are attracted to the bait on fishing lines, get caught on the hooks, and drown. This fishing method has caused a dramatic decline in its populations.
The name perfectly describes its lifestyle. These birds are true ocean wanderers, covering vast distances across the Southern Ocean. Tracked individuals have been recorded circumnavigating the globe.
Can albatrosses sleep while flying?
While the idea is appealing, there is no definitive proof that albatrosses enter a deep sleep in flight. However, like dolphins, they can likely rest one half of their brain at a time while continuing to fly, a state of semi-awareness that allows them to stay airborne for days.
How far can an albatross travel?
Individuals fitted with satellite tags have shown they can travel up to 15,000 km (over 9,300 miles) on a single foraging trip. They can circle the globe multiple times during their long lives.
