The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), also known as the snowy albatross, boasts the largest wingspan of any living bird (up to 3.5 metres / 11.5 feet). Its Wandering name was given by early mariners who observed the bird's extraordinary lifestyle. Wandering albatrosses spend the vast majority of their lives in flight over the open ocean, clocking up to 120,000 kilometres a year and circumnavigating the Southern Ocean, landing only to breed and feed. Diomedea is after the Greek Trojan War hero King Diomedes; exulans is Latin for exile or wanderer. It can cover up to 10,000km in a single fishing trip, sometimes travelling more than 500 miles a day. It breeds on South Georgia Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Prince Edward Islands, and Macquarie Island, is seen feeding year-round off the Kaikōura Peninsula on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and flies in all the southern oceans.
See also: Albatross, Laysan albatross, Salvin's albatross, White-capped albatross.
See also: Albatross, Laysan albatross, Salvin's albatross, White-capped albatross.
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