Wandering Albatross: Facts, Diet & Where to See Them

1. What Is a Wandering Albatross?

A seabird that lives on the wind

The wandering albatross is one of the "great albatrosses", a group of the largest seabirds on earth. It spends most of its life gliding over the open Southern Ocean and comes to land mainly to breed.

Its main breeding islands are scattered around the Southern Ocean: South Georgia, the Prince Edward Islands, the Crozet and Kerguelen Islands, and Macquarie Island. On an Antarctica voyage, South Georgia is the place you're most likely to visit.

• Lifespan: commonly 50+ years; some birds live longer
• First breeding: usually around 10 years old
• Conservation status: Vulnerable, mostly due to fishing bycatch

2. Size, Wingspan & How to Recognize One

Long, narrow wings built for gliding

Wandering albatrosses get whiter with age. Young birds are mostly chocolate-brown, and over many years they turn white, starting with the face and body. The oldest males are almost entirely white apart from black wingtips.

At sea, the hardest part is telling a wandering albatross from its close relatives, like the royal albatross. Ask the ship's naturalists. Pointing out albatrosses is one of their favorite parts of the job.

3. How They Fly Without Flapping

Dynamic soaring on Southern Ocean winds

Wandering albatrosses barely flap. They use a technique called dynamic soaring, swooping down toward the waves and turning back up into the wind to gain height, again and again. The steady winds of the Southern Ocean power it all.

They also have a special tendon that locks their wings open, so holding them outstretched takes very little effort. The result is one of the most efficient ways of travel in the animal world.

• Distance: foraging trips can cover thousands of kilometres
• Around the world: tracked birds have circled the Southern Ocean in a matter of weeks
• Why rough seas help: strong winds make flying easier, so a lumpy Drake crossing often brings the best views

4. What Wandering Albatrosses Eat

Squid, fish and whatever floats

Wandering albatrosses feed mostly at the surface, taking prey that is at or just below the waves. Much of their hunting may happen at night, when squid rise toward the surface.

• Squid: the main part of the diet
• Fish: an important second source
• Carrion and scraps: they also scavenge, and have long followed fishing boats

That last habit is also their biggest danger, as the next sections explain.

5. A Slow, Lifelong Partnership

One egg, a year of work, and a partner for life

Wandering albatrosses usually pair for life. Courtship involves an elaborate dance, with outstretched wings, bill clapping and sky-pointing calls. Once paired, a couple can stay together for decades.

• One egg: laid in a large mud-and-grass nest, around December
• Long incubation: roughly 11 weeks, shared by both parents
• Long childhood: the chick stays on the nest through the winter and fledges about nine months after hatching
• Every other year: because the cycle takes about a year, successful pairs generally breed every two years

This slow pace means populations take a very long time to recover from losses.

6. Population & Threats

A long-lived bird with a slow recovery rate

The global population is estimated at around 20,000 mature birds, with several thousand pairs breeding each year. South Georgia holds a significant share, but numbers there have fallen sharply over recent decades.

The main threat is fishing. Albatrosses dive for baited hooks set by longline fishing boats, get caught and drown. Other threats include:

• Invasive predators on some breeding islands, such as mice attacking chicks
• Plastic pollution swallowed at sea and fed to chicks
• Changing winds and ocean conditions caused by climate change

There is progress. Measures like weighted lines, bird-scaring streamers and night setting of hooks have cut bycatch sharply in many fisheries, and the successful rat eradication on South Georgia has helped its seabirds.

7. Where to See Wandering Albatrosses

At sea first, South Georgia second

Most travelers see wandering albatrosses from the ship's deck rather than on land:

• The Drake Passage: albatrosses often follow ships for hours, especially on windy days
• The Scotia Sea: on voyages between the Falklands, South Georgia and the Peninsula
• Prion Island, South Georgia: a boardwalk to a breeding area, with landings managed and closed at some times of year to protect wildlife
• Albatross Island, South Georgia: another breeding site, with restricted access

If albatrosses are high on your list, choose an itinerary that includes South Georgia. For the full seabird picture, pair it with our guide to king penguins, which share the same islands.

8. Watching Albatrosses Well

Stern, wind and patience

• Head to the stern: albatrosses often glide in the ship's wake
• Dress for the wind: the best viewing weather is also the coldest on deck
• Hold on: keep one hand for the ship in rough seas
• Use a fast shutter: 1/2000s or faster freezes a gliding bird. A 100–400mm lens is ideal. See our camera gear guide.
• Keep your distance on land: stay on marked paths and at least 5 m from nests, and follow your guides