The wandering albatross, a magnificent seabird of the Southern Ocean, is known for its tremendous size and ability to travel vast distances. This species belongs to the great albatross group and is found primarily in the stormy, circumpolar waters of the Southern Hemisphere, rarely venturing north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Its evolutionary adaptation allows it to spend most of its life airborne over remote and challenging marine environments. The bird’s sheer scale and nomadic habits have made it a subject of intense scientific interest.
Defining Physical Characteristics
The wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans, possesses the largest wingspan of any living bird species. This defining feature dictates its lifestyle, reaching up to 11 feet (3.4 meters), with an average measurement over 10 feet (3.1 meters). This massive wingspan is narrow, an adaptation that reduces drag and makes the bird a highly efficient glider.
The body measures between 3.5 and 4.5 feet (107 to 135 centimeters) in length, weighing 13 to 28 pounds (6 to 12.5 kilograms). Adult plumage is predominantly white, earning it the alternate name “snowy albatross.” The wings display black markings on the tips, and the large, hooked bill is pale pink. Juvenile birds start with darker brown feathers, which gradually whiten over several years as they mature.
The Remarkable Lifestyle of Dynamic Soaring
The “wandering” nature of the albatross results from its mastery of dynamic soaring, a specialized flight technique that allows it to cover immense distances with minimal energy expenditure. This technique exploits the wind gradient—the difference in wind speed between the air near the ocean surface and the faster air higher up. The albatross executes a repeated cycle of climbing into faster air to gain speed, gliding downwind, and descending into slower air near the waves.
This continuous series of up-and-down maneuvers generates power from the wind shear, allowing the bird to fly without flapping its wings for extended periods. Individuals have been recorded traveling 6,000 kilometers in twelve days, and some birds can circumnavigate the globe in under two months. The species spends nearly all its non-breeding life at sea, feeding opportunistically near the surface on cephalopods, like squid, and small fish. They catch prey by surface-seizing or shallow dives.
Breeding Habits and Life Cycle
The reproductive cycle of the wandering albatross dictates a biennial breeding schedule. These birds are socially monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds that can last for life, often engaging in elaborate courtship displays when they return to their sub-Antarctic island colonies. The pair constructs a large nest on the ground using mud and vegetation, where the female lays a single, large egg.
The incubation period is one of the longest among all birds, lasting approximately 11 weeks, with both parents taking turns on the nest. After the chick hatches, parents must forage for food over vast distances to feed their offspring. The chick remains dependent for nearly a full year before it fledges, meaning a successful pair breeds only every two years. Young birds spend the next five to ten years at sea before returning to their natal colony to attempt breeding.
Conservation Status and Threats
The wandering albatross is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, primarily due to human activities. The most significant threat is incidental mortality, known as ‘bycatch,’ caused by commercial longline fishing operations. Birds are attracted to baited hooks deployed from vessels, leading to them becoming hooked and drowning as the lines sink.
Despite international efforts to mandate mitigation measures, thousands of albatrosses are killed this way annually. Other threats include the ingestion of plastic debris, which can cause internal injury or starvation. Habitat degradation on their remote breeding islands, often from introduced invasive species, also challenges the survival of young chicks.