{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "albatross",
  "name": "Wandering Albatross",
  "scientificName": "Diomedea exulans",
  "category": "Bird",
  "summary": "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.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Aves",
    "order": "Procellariiformes",
    "family": "Diomedeidae",
    "genus": "Diomedea"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 10,
    "lengthM": 1.3,
    "topSpeedKmh": 80,
    "lifespanYears": 50
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Diomedea exulans"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — squid, fish, and carrion"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Southern Ocean and sub-Antarctic islands"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "40–50 years (longest-lived birds)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "8–12 kg (18–26 lb); males larger"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 80 km/h (50 mph) wind-assisted gliding"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Southern Ocean — breeding on sub-Antarctic islands including South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, and Macquarie.",
    "continents": [
      "Antarctica",
      "Oceania",
      "Oceans",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Diomedea exulans.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Diomedea%20exulans&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Diomedea exulans. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Diomedea_exulans/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/albatross/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/albatross/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}