Wingspan Of Albatross: How Big Are They Compared To Others?

I was flabbergasted when I read about the wandering albatross wingspan. I never imagined that there were birds this big. 

And this generated a curiosity inside me wanting to know more about other albatrosses’ wingspan. 

And after going through a rabbit hole journey about albatrosses. I brought you this article about their wingspan.

I’ve covered all the albatrosses and their wingspan and also compared them with others. 

So without further ado, let’s get into it.

Wandering Albatross Wingspan

Wingspan Of Albatross

The wandering albatross is one of the two biggest species of the genus Diomedea (the great albatrosses), comparable in size to the southern royal albatross.

The wandering albatross is the world’s biggest flying seabird and is one of 23 albatross species.

Wandering Albatrosses are excellent gliders, able to soar across the sky for several hours without beating their wings.

Wandering Albatrosses may reach speeds of up to 40 km/h. They are so efficient at flying that they can consume less energy in the air than they would in a nest.

These feathered giant Wandering Albatross have the largest wingspan of all birds, their wingspan is about 2.51 to 3.5 m (8 ft 3 in to 11 ft 6 in). The average wingspan of the Wandering Albatross is about 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in). 

WingspanMeter feet/Inch
Wandering albatross2.51 to 3.5 m8 ft 3 in to 11 ft 6 in

Albatrosses are masters of soaring flight, able to glide over huge expanses of the ocean without beating their wings. They can fly so high and so easily because of their huge wingspan.

Laysan Albatross Wingspan

Wingspan Of Albatross

The Laysan albatross, also known as Phoebastria immutabilis, is a big seabird that lives in the North Pacific.

This species of white-headed bird has dark gray-brown upper wings and predominantly white underwings and is the world’s oldest known wild bird. Being a huge seabird, it has long and broad wings.

The Laysan Albatross is a magnificent flier, capable of gliding over the wide ocean for hours on end without making a single flap of its broad wings.

Also, the wings of the Albatrosses are very powerful and adapted to face the high winds through the oceans and seas. 

Laysan Albatrosses have a wingspan of about 195 to 203 cm (77–80 in) which makes them skilled fliers who are capable of flying long distances and through the most violent storms.

WingspanCentimeter feet/Inch 
Laysan albatross195 to 203 cm77–80 in

Although the Laysan Albatross does not have as large a wingspan as the Wandering Albatross, it still has a long and powerful wingspan of about 6 feet. 

Southern Royal Albatross Wingspan

Wingspan Of Albatross

The Southern Royal Albatross is a huge albatross in the Diomedeidae family. The Royal Southern Albatross is a massive albatross of the Southern Ocean that nests in New Zealand but travels across the world.

Adult Southern Royal Albatrosses have white forewings, whereas immatures have black upper wings.

In flight, the Southern Royal Albatross is an elegant bird with a huge wingspan. It can travel great distances mostly by gliding and sailing.

In terms of wingspan, Southern Royal Albatrosses are very similar to Wandering Albatrosses. The Royal Southern Albatross bird has a vast wingspan of more than 3 m. (9.8 ft). But on average their wingspan range from 2.9 to 3.28 m (9.5 to 10.8 ft). 

WingspanMeter feet/Inch 
Royal Southern albatross2.9 to 3.28 m 9.5 to 10.8 ft

The Royal Albatross has one of the largest wingspans, a little bit smaller than the Wandering Albatross.

Black-footed Albatross Wingspan

The black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes, is a big seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae from the North Pacific. 

The black-footed albatross is the smallest of the three northern hemisphere albatross species, the others being the Laysan albatross and the short-tailed albatross.

The Black-footed Albatross is an adept glider, capable of riding oceanic air currents for hours and across large distances.

Also, like other Albatrosses, these have a characteristic flying style known as dynamic soaring. Except in extremely weak breezes, they hardly flap their wings.

The bird has a vast wingspan of roughly 190 to 220 cm (6.2–7.2 ft).

WingspanCentimeter  feet/Inch 
Black-footed Albatross190 to 220 cm6.2–7.2 ft

Short-tailed Albatross Wingspan

The short-tailed albatross, sometimes known as Steller’s albatross, is a huge, uncommon seabird found in the North Pacific. These albatrosses are ocean birds that spend most of their time gliding across the open sea.

The Short-tailed albatross is the biggest of three species of albatross found in the North Pacific Ocean, characterized by its wide wingspan. 

The short-tailed albatross is one of the most amazing gliders of all birds, able to fly aloft in stormy conditions for hours without ever moving its wings.

Short-tailed albatrosses may fly for up to five years without landing. Their wingspan ranges from 215 to 230 cm (6.2–7.2 ft).

WingspanCentimeter  feet/Inch 
Short-tailed albatross215 to 230 cm7-7.5 ft

Black-Browed Albatross Wingspan

The black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris, is a big seabird in the albatross family Diomedeidae.

Black-browed Albatrosses, on the other hand, are opportunistic feeders, consuming nearly anything they can get their hands on.

These Black-Browed Albatrosses fly high in the sky using their grey, white, and black wings. Because of their big and lengthy wings, the flying heart rate of a Black-browed albatross is nearly the same as when it is resting.

Their large wingspan helps them to fly for long periods of time without tiring and they scarcely need to flap their wings at all. Their wingspan ranges from 200 to 240 cm (79-94 in), about 7-8 feet.

WingspanCentimeter  feet/Inch 
Black-browed Albatross200 to 240 cm79-94 in or 6.5-7.8 feet

Due to its enormous wingspan, Black-browed Albatrosses may achieve speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour depending on wind currents.

Sooty Albatross Wingspan

Sooty albatrosses forage predominantly over deep oceanic waters, but also on continental slopes and undersea rises south of Australia.

The Sooty Albatross is a gorgeous smoky-brown albatross with vivid white eye crescents and an orange stripe going down the beak.

It is also a small to medium-sized, sooty-brown albatross with a diamond-shaped tail. Sooty and light-mantled sooty albatrosses also excel in their remarkably coordinated pair display flying off their colonies, often adjusting flight angles in tandem.

The Sooty Albatrosses have small to medium-sized wingspan with a length of about 2 m (6.6 ft).

WingspanCentimeter  feet/Inch 
Sooty albatross wingspan200 cm6.6 feet

Antipodean Albatross Wingspan

The Antipodean albatross (Diomedea antipodensis) is a huge albatross that is smaller than the largest wandering albatross. The majority of birds breed on Antipodes Island, with a few pairs on Campbell Island.

The wings and tail of the antipodean albatross are essential for flying. Its underwings are white as well, but with a black tip. Males are whiter than females, and their plumage varies according to gender.

The Antipodean Albatross, like other giant albatrosses, flies low-energy, making use of minor updrafts generated by wind and waves. It seldom flaps its wings and may glide for great distances while looking for food. It has a wingspan of 3 meters (9.84 ft).

WingspanCentimeter  feet/Inch 
Antipodean Albatross300 cm9.84 feet

Northern Royal Albatross Wingspan

Diomedea sanfordi, often known as the northern royal albatross or toroa, is a huge seabird in the albatross family.

It was recently separated from the closely related southern royal albatross. The Northern royal albatross is an elegant behemoth and one of the world’s biggest seabirds.

The Northern Royal Albatross has solid black upper wings, as opposed to the Southern Royal Albatross, which has white wings. This is a huge and well-known ocean wanderer that travels long distances from its breeding sites to eat.

These Albatrosses have a wingspan ranging from 270 to 305 cm (106-120 in), or up to 11 feet.

WingspanCentimeter  feet/Inch 
Northern royal albatross270 to 305 cm106-120 in or 11 feet

Tristan Albatross Wingspan

The Tristan albatross (Diomedea dabbenena) is a big seabird in the albatross family and one of the genus Diomedea’s great albatrosses.

The Tristan Albatross resembles the Wandering Albatross in appearance, although it is smaller and has a darker back. In addition, the Tristan Albatross is the third most endangered albatross species.

It has the largest known wingspan of any living bird and is also one of the most widespread. The sea bird’s wingspan is around 300 cm (3.05 m) (10.0 ft).

WingspanCentimeter  feet/Inch 
Tristan albatross300 – 305 cm10.0 ft

Conclusion

And that was everything you need to know about the wingspan of albatrosses. I hope this article  was informative enough and you got something useful from it.

Thank You For Reading!

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