Albatrosses are seabirds known for their impressive wingspans and gliding abilities across oceans. These long-lived birds spend most of their lives traversing the open sea. Their adaptations allow them to exploit oceanic winds, enabling them to cover immense distances with minimal energy expenditure.
Global Distribution
Albatrosses are predominantly found in the Southern Ocean, circulating the Antarctic continent, and also inhabit parts of the North Pacific. In the Southern Hemisphere, their range extends across the South Atlantic, South Pacific, and Indian Oceans, reaching from Antarctica northward towards Australia, South Africa, and South America. A smaller number of species, including the Laysan, Black-footed, and Short-tailed albatrosses, are found exclusively in the North Pacific, ranging from Hawaii to Japan, California, and Alaska. The Waved Albatross is an exception, breeding in the Galápagos Islands and foraging off the coast of South America, making it the only albatross species to live entirely within tropical latitudes.
Oceanic Habitat
The open ocean, or pelagic zone, serves as the primary habitat for albatrosses for most of their lives. These birds are highly adapted for a life at sea, spending extensive periods gliding over the water’s surface. Their exceptionally long, narrow wings, some reaching over 3.6 meters (12 feet), allow them to efficiently use dynamic and slope soaring techniques to cover great distances without constant flapping. Albatrosses primarily feed on squid, fish, and krill, which they locate using their keen sense of smell and excellent eyesight, often by scavenging or surface seizing prey. They possess specialized salt glands to excrete excess salt, enabling them to drink seawater.
Breeding Grounds
Albatrosses return to specific land-based locations for breeding, typically remote, uninhabited oceanic islands or isolated coastal cliffs. These sites provide protection from predators and sufficient space for large colonies to form.
Notable breeding grounds include sub-Antarctic islands in the Southern Ocean, such as:
- South Georgia
- Macquarie Island
- Crozet Islands
- Kerguelen Islands
- Prince Edward Island
- Campbell Island
In the North Pacific, islands near Midway Atoll and Hawaii, as well as some Japanese islands, serve as significant breeding areas. The Waved Albatross breeds on Española Island in the Galápagos and Isla de la Plata off Ecuador. These isolated environments are important for their reproductive success, providing secure nesting sites for their single egg and allowing parents to raise their young.
Seasonal Movements
Albatrosses undertake seasonal movements between their oceanic feeding grounds and breeding colonies. After chicks fledge, young birds may spend several years at sea without touching land, often circumnavigating the globe multiple times. For example, some Grey-headed Albatrosses have been tracked circumnavigating the Antarctic continent, covering up to 240,000 km between breeding seasons. These journeys are primarily driven by seasonal changes, food availability, and the need to return to their breeding sites. While many individuals follow consistent migratory routes, some populations exhibit varied strategies, with some birds being more sedentary while others travel vast distances.