Wandering Albatross
Diomedea exulans
Conservation Status
Near ThreatenedAves · Procellariiformes · Diomedeidae
About
The snowy albatross, also known as the wandering albatross, white-winged albatross, or goonie, is a large seabird from the family Diomedeidae; they have a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean. It is the largest species of albatross and was long considered to be the same species as the Tristan albatross and the Antipodean albatross. Together with the Amsterdam albatross, it forms the wandering albatross species complex, which some began referring to more recently as "snowy".
Fun Fact
Wandering albatrosses have the largest wingspan of any living bird — up to 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) — and they can fly for hours without flapping by using a technique called dynamic soaring over ocean waves.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Open oceans
Diet
Piscivore
Lifespan
40-60 years
Threats
- Shipping Traffic
- Poaching
- Illegal Wildlife Trade