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Wandering Albatross
(Diomedea exulans)
: "Snowy Albatross", "White-winged Albatross"
Size: 1.1-1.35 m; wing span 2.5-3.5 m
Weight: 5.9-12.7 kg
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Wandering Albatrosses are very big seabirds with an almost all-white
plumage.
Adult birds
have a black fringe around the wings, extending from the
alula outwards
and all around the
back of the wing. The bill is flesh-pink, the eyes are black.
Females
always have brown speckles or streaks on the crown.
Juvenile
birds have all dark-grey bodies and upperwings, with a
white face. In immature Wandering Albatrosses the body, upperwings
and underwings gradually moult from being black into the mostly white
adult plumage with
black edges, in various stages of mottled black-and-white.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Wandering
Albatross at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Wandering Albatross is available
HERE
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At sea the range of Wandering Albatrosses is circumpolar, from -28
to -60 degrees geographic latitude. Their breeding colonies are on
several islands,
including - on Australian territory - on Macquarie Island.
In Australia they reach
coastal waters
off the Australian continent anywhere along the southern
half of the continent, from South of -20 degrees latitude on the QLD
coast to just to the North of Perth in WA.
Wandering Albatrosses are
pelagic
birds that spend most of their time out on the open ocean and in
coastal waters.
They breed on
offshore islands.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "exulans"
We have seen a Wandering Albatross, nominate race
"exulans"(?),
on a pelagic to the edge of the continental shelf, 22 nautical miles
(40 km) from Terrigal, NSW,
in July 2013. Some authors distinguish between races "Diomedea [exulans]
antipodensis" and "Diomedea [exulans] gibsoni"). The bird shown here is
likely an Antipodean Albatross.
C. Pears reports finding a Wandering Albatross, nominate race
"exulans"(?),
a few km off Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, in January 2023.
Race "gibsoni"
M. Eaton reports finding a Wandering Albatross, race
"gibsoni",
on a pelagic off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, in September 2021.
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Photos |
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Race "exulans"
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ADULT |
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FEMALE |
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Near-frontal view of a Wandering Albatross on the water; if race
"antipodensis", this bird is most likely an immature or young adult female
[22 NM (40 km) ESE of Terrigal, NSW, July 2013]
Lateral view of the same Wandering Albatross as shown above
[22 NM (40 km) ESE of Terrigal, NSW, July 2013]
Race "gibsoni"
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ADULT |
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Dorsal view of a Wandering Albatross in flight
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, in September 2021]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
