Wandering Albatross

Diomedea exulans

Soaring over vast oceans for months on end, this majestic seabird boasts the largest wingspan of any living bird species.

Share this bird:

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Wandering Albatross is renowned for its massive wingspan, the largest of any living bird.

Adults have predominantly white plumage with black wing tips and trailing edges. The face is white with a pink bill tipped yellow.

Males are generally whiter than females, who retain more brown plumage throughout adulthood. Juveniles are dark brown, gradually whitening with age. The species exhibits slight seasonal variation in bill colour.

Size

Length

107cm to 135cm

Wingspan

251cm to 351cm

Weight

6.1kg to 11.9kg

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

White Black

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Pink Yellow

Leg Colour

Pink

Primary Colour (Female)

White Black Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Grey

Beak Colour (Female)

Pink Yellow

Leg Colour (Female)

Pink

Special Accolade

Longest Wingspan

Largest wingspan of any living bird

Record: Up to 3.65 m (12 ft) wingspan

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Wandering Albatross can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Wandering Albatross is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Wandering Albatrosses inhabit the vast Southern Ocean, circling the globe between 30°S and 60°S. They breed on remote subantarctic islands, including South Georgia, Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, and Macquarie Island.

During non-breeding seasons, they range widely across southern oceans, occasionally reaching waters off southern Australia, New Zealand, and South America. They rarely venture into the northern hemisphere.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 5 meters above sea surface

Climate zones

Subantarctic, Antarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Wandering Albatross. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons