What is an Albatross?

What is an Albatross?

The albatross is one of the world’s largest flying seabirds. It comes from the Diomedeidae family which is said to contain 22 different species. The albatross has a large body with mostly white feathers. It can have some black and grey colour variation. Its beak is long and orange or yellow in colour.

The most distinct feature of the albatross is it’s enormous wingspan. The albatross uses its huge wingspan to glide above the ocean for hours at a time without flapping its wings! Albatross wings have an arch shape and appear stiff. This is because they rarely need to flap. This shape makes the albatross reliant on the wind and it also means that they do not use up much energy whilst in flight. The albatross is also able to float on water where it is more vulnerable to predators.

Despite its impressive wings, the albatross weighs roughly the same as a swan - about 10 kilograms.

Species Of Albatross

1. Waved Albatross
2. Short-tailed Albatross
3. Black-footed Albatross
4. Laysan Albatross
5. Wandering Albatross
6. Antipodean Albatross
7. Amsterdam Albatross
8. Tristan Albatross
9. Northern Royal Albatross
10. Southern Royal Albatross
11. Sooty Albatross
12. Light-mantled Albatross
13. Black-browed Albatross
14. Campbell Albatross
15. Shy Albatross
16. White-capped Albatross
17. Chatham Albatross
18. Salvin's Albatross
19. Grey-headed Albatross
20. Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
21. Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
22. Buller's Albatross

What is the albatross habitat?

There are many species of albatross and they all have one habitat in common. The main albatross habitat is of course - the sea. The albatross spends most of its day soaring above the ocean and an albatross can cover hundreds of miles everyday.

The albatross’s habitat is wide ranging and covers the Southern and North Pacific oceans. The majority of albatrosses inhabit the south but there are some species in the north.

Where can you find a Wandering Albatross?

The Wandering Albatross is one of the best known, largest and most studied of the albatross species. Its enormous wingspan is the widest of all living birds.

Like all albatrosses, the Wandering Albatross's habitat is mostly in the sky! As its name suggests, the Wandering Albatross travels enormous distances. They are said to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean up to three times per year!

The Wandering Albatross’s habitat covers specific locations across the Southern Oceans.

They spend most of their life in the air, so these are the places where they choose to breed and feed:

• South Georgia Island: Part of the British Overseas Territories, this is a remote island in the Southern Atlantic Ocean near the Falkland Islands. It does not have a permanent human population.
• Crozet Islands: A group of islands on the Antarctic Plate near Madagascar. They are used as a testing station for scientific research.
• Kerguelen Islands: Also known as the Desolation Islands, these are some of the most isolated places on the planet. They are part of French Southern And Antarctic Lands.
• Marion And Prince Edward Islands: Two small islands in the Indian Ocean which are part of South Africa. They have Special Nature Reserve status. Activity on the islands is restricted to research and conservation.
• Macquarie Islands: A UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Pacific Ocean. They are a Tasmanian State Reserve.
• Kaikoura Peninsula: Located on the East Coast Peninsula of New Zealand, this area has a mountain range rising from the ocean.

Facts about the albatross’s habitat

• The Southern Ocean, also known as the Austral or Antarctic Ocean is the second smallest ocean and surrounds Antarctica.
• The North Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of the oceans. It makes up about 45% of the world’s water making it larger than all of the Earth’s land mass put together.

To find out more about the ocean habitat, why not take a look at our Ocean Habitat wiki page? Or if you need lesson materials, what about this beautifully illustrated PowerPoint about Ocean Habitats?

How do albatrosses breed?

An albatross spends most of its life at sea and only visits land to breed. They nest in large colonies on remote islands. Instinctively, albatrosses return to the place where they themselves were hatched to nest. Female albatrosses lay a single egg in a small dip in the ground. Both parents take turns to care for the egg. At three to ten months old, young albatrosses are ready to fly. They don’t return to land again for a further five to ten years.

What do albatrosses eat and drink?

Albatrosses dive from the sea’s surface to catch schooling fish, squid and krill. Most species feed in the deeper parts of the ocean. However like seagulls, they sometimes follow fishing boats in the hope of getting fed. Like some other sea birds, they’re also able to drink salt water.

What are the threats to the albatross?

All 22 species of albatross are listed as being in danger of extinction, with some species identified as critically endangered. In the past, certain species were hunted by humans for their feathers which were used in the manufacturing of down and hats. Also in the past, the albatross formed part of both the Eskimo and Aleut diets.

More recent threats include plastic pollution from litter, offshore dumping and river waste which the albatross accidentally ingests. This can affect their body weight by causing an obstruction. The albatross is also vulnerable at breeding time from small mammals which may disturb the nest.

If you looking to teach children about conserving our ocean habitats you might be interested in this fascinating PowerPoint:

Fun facts about the albatross

• An albatross is almost constantly moving
• Their wingspan can reach up to 3.5 metres (about 12 feet)
• They can live for up to 50 years in the wild
• The word albatross comes from an Arabic word meaning 'the diver'
• Some people call the albatross the goony bid due to the funny way it lands
• The name Diomedeidae is comes from the ancient Greek hero Diomedes
• Although similar, seagulls and albatrosses are from different families.

Teaching resources for seabirds and ocean habitats

If you’re teaching pupils about seabirds and their ocean habitats you might be interested in our fantastic range of related resources.

You’re sure to find some creative ideas for engaging young learners including:

• Roleplaying with seagull masks
• Naming the parts of a seabird
• Learning about ocean habitats.