# How Long Do Wandering Albatrosss Live?

> Wandering Albatross lifespan is typically 40–50 years (longest-lived birds). What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Vulnerable).

- **Species:** Wandering Albatross (*Diomedea exulans*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Carnivore — squid, fish, and carrion
- **Habitat:** Southern Ocean and sub-Antarctic islands
- **Lifespan:** 40–50 years (longest-lived birds)
- **Top speed:** Up to 80 km/h (50 mph) wind-assisted gliding
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/albatross/how-long-do-albatross-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/albatross/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is a giant seabird of the Southern Ocean, boasting the widest wingspan of any living bird. It weighs around 8 to 12 kg (18 to 26 lb) and glides across the waves at up to 80 km/h (50 mph) with barely a wingbeat. Feeding on squid, fish, and carrion snatched from the sea surface, it is one of the longest-lived birds, reaching 40 to 50 years. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a prognosis for one named animal. This page is a species lifespan range.

## The widest wings on Earth

The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, with the longest individuals stretching over three metres from tip to tip. Its body measures around 1.3 m (over 4 ft) in length and weighs roughly 8 to 12 kg (18 to 26 lb), with males larger than females. Adults are mostly white with black-tipped wings, growing whiter with age, while young birds start out chocolate brown. Those enormous, narrow wings are built not for flapping but for effortless gliding.

## Help protect the Wandering Albatross

Longline fishing hooks kill tens of thousands of albatrosses each year — mitigation devices save birds when fleets use them.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/albatross/how-long-do-albatross-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.