ID Keys: Massive size, plumage variable, darker when young and
whiter when mature, with completely white underside, head, neck, and
back
The
Wandering Albatross is one of the largest birds in the world, with a
wingspan of up to 11 feet that surpasses all others. Despite their
size, they are truly world-class fliers, and outside of the breeding season,
spend nearly all of their lives in flight. They are very long-lived
birds, with individuals living 50 years or more. Mating pairs stay
together for life. They are normally found on the far southern oceans near
Antarctica and are only an extremely rare visitor to North America, with one
sighting off the coast of Oregon and another off the coast of California (as
of 2012).
Habitat
Breeds on remote islands in the southern
oceans. Outside of the breeding season, they can be found wandering
across much of the cold oceans of the southern hemisphere.
Diet
Feeds heavily on squid, but will also take
fish and crustaceans.
Behavior
Spends nearly its entire life on the
wing, outside of the breeding season and when feeding. Feeding is
typically done at night, when they often swim on the water and capture squid
that come closer to the surface at night.
Nesting
The nest is a large mound built of
grasses, mosses, and mud. Pairs typically nest every other year. The
female lays a single egg, and both parents will help incubate it during an
extremely long incubation period of 2 1/2 months. Upon hatching, both
parents will tend to the youngster and help feed it. The young stay
with the parents for many months before gaining independence.
Song
Makes a variety of sounds, including grunts,
shrieks, and whistles.
Migration
Breeds on islands just near the
Antarctic Circle. Outside of the breeding season, they may be found over
nearly any cold ocean area in the southern Hemisphere.
On the extremely rare occasion that one has been spotted near North America,
the typical Northern Hemisphere species they're most likely to be confused
with are the Laysan Albatross and
the Short-tailed Albatross.
