Range

These birds have a wide range running circumpolar around the Subantarctic Ocean. They can be found on land in the following countries - Angola, Antarctica, Argentina, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Australia, Bouvet Island, Brazil, Chile, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Panama, Portugal, Réunion, Saint Helena, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Tonga, United States and Uruguay.

Habitat

While breeding they will nest in open or patchy vegetation on an exposed hillside. During the rest of the year they fly above the southern ocean.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place in summer starting in December. Pairs are monogamous and form for life though females may find another mate if hers is not present when she returns to the nesting site and it is not uncommon for mating to occur outside of mated pairs.

Males return to their nesting site first and will make a nest or reuse one from previous years. The females will join them over the course of the next few weeks and locate their mate.

Pairs breed once every two years. If they fail to breed or their chick does not survive they may try again in the same season or the next year.

They undertake a courtship display which includes spreading the wings, clapping the bill and uttering a moaning call.

Their nest is made out of mud and vegetation and is placed on an exposed ridge.

Both parents will work together to incubate a single egg. The egg is incubated for 78 days. Once the chick hatches the parents will brood it for four to six weeks.

Following this the parents will leave the chick at the nest while they go off to feed. The chick continues to rely on its parents for food for 9-10 months. The parents may leave them alone for weeks at a time though while they go to feed. The chick is fed with regurgitated food.

They will first breed around 11-15 years old though they start returning to the colony at 6 years old.

Behavior

Wandering albatross may spend up to 50 days out over the water flying and foraging for food. During the breeding season they will reduce the length of these trips.

While on these foraging trips they will travel in small groups. During the breeding season large numbers will come together at the breeding sites.

A range of vocalizations are made including croaks, bill-clapping and trumpeting.

Predators and Threats

Eggs are preyed upon by skuas and shearwaters. Their nests may also be targeted by introduced species such as cats, goats, pigs, rats and mice. Humans have previously hunted them in small amounts.

One of the largest developing threats for this species is long-line fishing. They can become entangled in these lines while hunting for food.

Quick facts

Their scientific name comes from a Latin word for ‘living in exile.’

They are occasionally called the ‘snowy albatross’ as they are so white. Others refer to them as the white-winged albatross.

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