Wildlife
Wandering albatrosses hold the record for the bird with the largest wingspan, with some individuals measuring 3.5 metres. They spend most of their life on the wing, returning to land only to court a mate and to breed.
Did you know?
At a massive 3.5 metres the wandering albatross has the largest recorded wingspan of any living bird.
Scientific name: Diomedea exulans
Rank: Species
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Weighty wanderers
The world's largest seabird chicks.
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, and what better way to show off these outsize albatross chicks, than to have Sir David sit next to one? Fortunately the chick was well behaved - they are known to use projectile vomit as a way to ward off unwanted visitors!
All alone on the nest
Eriksson the wandering albatross chick is left alone on the nest.
Eriksson the wandering albatross chick is left alone on the nest.
Erik spotted at sea
Erik was spotted from a fishing vessel in a chance sighting out at sea.
Wandering albatross Erik was on a foraging trip out at sea when he was spotted by biologist Jon Ashburner doing research aboard a fishing vessel.
Erika lost at sea?
Is Erika still alive? What could have happened to her? What would happen to Eriksson if she isn't?
Erika was last recorded over the ocean near the Falkland Islands. Scientist Claudia Mischler considers what might have happened to Erika and what could happen to Eriksson if Erika doesn't come back.
Introducing Erik the albatross
BAS scientist Derren Fox introduces Erik, the wandering albatross.
BAS scientist Derren Fox introduces Erik, the wandering albatross. Satellite tagged so that we can track him as he flies the Southern Ocean.
The Wandering albatross can be found in a number of locations including: Africa, Antarctica. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Wandering albatross distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Vulnerable
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Wandering Albatross, Snowy Albatross or White-winged Albatross,Diomedea exulans, is a large seabird from the family Diomedeidae, which has a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean. It was the first species of albatross to be described, and was long considered the same species as the Tristan Albatross and the Antipodean Albatross. In fact, a few authors still consider them all subspecies of the same species. The SACC has a proposal on the table to split this species, and BirdLife International has already split it. Together with the Amsterdam Albatross it forms the Wandering Albatross species complex. The Wandering Albatross is the largest member of the genus Diomedea (the great albatrosses), one of the largest birds in the world, and one of the best known and studied species of bird in the world.
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Coastal
Shallow seas
Open ocean
Temperate grassland
Tundra
Carnivorous
Courtship display
Adapted to flying
Monogamous
Egg layer
Parental investment
Predator
Visual communication