Wandering Albatross
NameWandering Albatross
Common NameWandering Albatross
Scientific NameDiomedea exulans
FamilyDiomedeidae
Wingspan (cm)310
Length (cm)110
Weight (g)8500
Plumage DetailsAdults are mostly white, with black primary feathers and variable black markings on the upperwing coverts, which diminish with age. Juveniles are darker, with a more mottled brown plumage that gradually whitens over several years. The bill is a distinctive pinkish-white.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea. At breeding colonies, they produce a variety of grunts, gurgles, hisses, and bill-clapping sounds during courtship and territorial interactions.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatspelagic, oceanic, subantarctic islands (breeding)
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeCircumpolar in the Southern Ocean, ranging widely across the southern Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. They breed on remote subantarctic islands such as South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, and Macquarie.
Identifying FeaturesImmense wingspan (largest of any bird), Large size, Predominantly white plumage (adults), Pinkish-white bill, Dark wingtips, Pelagic lifestyle
Description
The Wandering Albatross is one of the largest flying birds, renowned for its immense wingspan and ability to spend most of its life at sea. Adults are predominantly white with dark wingtips and a pale bill, gracefully soaring over the open ocean.
