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Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds related to the procellariids, storm petrels, and diving petrels in the order Procellariiformes (the tubenoses). They range widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific.
- One Albatross Has the Largest Wingspan of Any Living Bird. The wingspan of a wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) measures up to 12 feet across, which makes it the largest extant bird on Earth in terms of wingspan.
- They Can Go Years Without Touching Land. Once they fledge, albatrosses may spend a year or more at sea without setting foot on land, most of which is spent flying.
- They Can Live and Raise Chicks Into Their 60s. All albatrosses are long-lived birds that can survive for many decades. Some live well beyond 50. The best-known example comes from a Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) named Wisdom, who was first banded by scientists in 1956 at Midway Atoll.
- They Mate for Life (With Some Wiggle Room) Albatrosses mate for life. They form a long-term bond with one partner and are often said to have the lowest "divorce rate" of any bird; mated pairs virtually never split up until one dies.
Albatrosses are large seabirds with the longest wingspan of any bird, up to 11 feet. They use their wings to ride the ocean winds, float on the surface, and mate for life. Learn more about their diet, breeding, and their role in maritime lore and conservation.
Jul 24, 2020 · Albatrosses: Facts about the biggest flying birds. References. By Rachel Kaufman. published 24 July 2020. The biggest flying bird in the world can go for years without touching land, has ...
Learn about albatross, the family of large seabirds that can glide for hours without flapping their wings. Find out their distribution, behaviour, life cycle, and threats from hunting and pollution.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Albatross guide: species facts, diet, threats they face - and their massive wingspan - Discover Wildlife.
Description. The snowy albatross and the southern royal albatross are the largest of the albatrosses and are among the largest of flying birds. They have the largest wingspans of any bird, being up to 3.5 m (11 ft) from tip to tip, although the average is a little over 3 m (9.8 ft).
