Wildlife
Waved albatrosses spend most of their lives at sea, but come ashore to breed on the Galápagos Islands. These are the largest birds to be found on the archipelago, and they mate for life; a relationship which begins with an elaborate display of circling, bowing. Each year a pair hatch one egg, and after a mere 167 days, this chick will leave the nest to spend the next 6 years at sea, before it returns as an adult to the islands once more.
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Aerodynamic albatross
A waved albatross uses air currents to glide with ease.
A waved albatross uses air currents to glide with ease.
Waved albatross return
After months spent entirely on the wing, waved albatrosses finally land to breed.
The field team was given special access to the key breeding sites of the waved albatross on Espanola by the Galapagos National Park. Permission to camp on the island depended on a rigorous quarantine process for all equipment and supplies, but meant the team had time to cover the full range of albatross behaviour in all its intricacies.
The Waved albatross can be found in a number of locations including: Galápagos. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Waved 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
Critically Endangered
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), also known as Galapagos Albatross, is the only member of the Diomedeidae family located in the tropics. When they forage, the Waved Albatross follow straight paths to a single site off the coast of Peru, about 1,000 km (620 mi) distant to the east. During the non-breeding season, these birds reside primarily in the areas of the Ecuador and Peruvian coasts.
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Carnivorous
Courtship display
Adapted to flying
Acoustic communication
Kleptoparasitic
Monogamous
Moulting
Nomadic
Egg layer
Parental investment
Predator
Visual communication