The snowy albatross, aka wandering albatross, white-winged albatross, or goonie, boasts the largest wingspan of any living bird! They dwell among the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Antarctic Oceans. These birds face the threats of accidental trapping by fisheries, which were responsible for a 54% decrease in the bird’s numbers; hunting; invasive species, in the form of feral cats and house mice; water pollution; microplastics pollution; and climate change, which can cause severe weather in the form of oceanic storms and freezing temperatures. The IUCN lists these birds as Vulnerable. Their population trend is listed as decreasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Diomedea exulans
Weight: Up to 35 lbs.
Length: Up to 4.5 feet
Wingspan: Up to 12+ feet
Lifespan: Up to 60 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) Amazingly some individuals have been known to circumnavigate the Southern Oceans 3x in 1 year, covering more than 75,000 miles!
2.) Not only do they have the largest wingspan of any bird, but they are the largest of all the known species of albatross.
3.) These albatrosses were first discovered by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
4.) Some experts utilize the term “wandering albatross” to refer to a species complex that includes the 4 proposed species: D. antipodensis, D. dabbenena, D. gibsoni, and D. exulans.
5.) They excrete a high amount of saline solution from their nose, which likely explains the pink-yellow stain seen on some individual’s necks.
But wait, there’s more on the snowy albatross!
6.) These birds spend most of their life in flight, landing just to breed and feed.
7.) While it is uncertain how many miles they fly throughout their life, 1 banded individual was recorded traveling 3,700 miles in just 12 days!
Did you know…?
There are only an estimated 20,100 individuals remaining, to date.
8.) Feeding on the open ocean takes place on the surface, as they are not well adapted for diving.
9.) They are diurnal (active during the day).
10.) Octopus, squid, fish, and crustaceans are all on the menu.
But wait, there’s still more on the snowy albatross!
11.) These seabirds are monogamous (mate for life).
12.) Breeding takes place every other year.
Did you know…?
These giant birds can reach flight speeds of up to 84 mph!
13.) Females lay a single egg that hatches in up to 11 weeks.
14.) Only about 31.5% of fledglings survive to adulthood.
15.) They have a large range of vocalizations and general sounds from screams and whistles, to grunts and bill clapping.
But wait, there’s still a tad more on the snowy albatross!
16.) Back in the days of old, sailors used to capture these birds for their long wing bones, with which they made tobacco pipe stems.
17.) Their biggest threat to the survival of their species is that they are attracted by the bait for longline fishing and get caught in the same manner as the fish.
18.) The CCAMLR has introduced measures to reduce bycatch of albatrosses around South Georgia by 99%.
Now a Short Snowy Albatross Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
Photo credit: JJ Harrison
