Snowy Albatross

Diomedea exulans Linnaeus, 1758

Snowy Albatross, Diomedea exulans, is an albatross of the Southern Ocean, breeding on high-latitude islands such as South Georgia, Prince Edward, Crozet, Heard and Kerguelen, and ranging widely across all southern oceans when not breeding. It is the largest albatross and one of the two biggest birds in the genus Diomedea. It is also known for having the greatest wingspan recorded for any living bird. Linnaeus described it in 1758.

Order

Procellariiformes

Family

Diomedeidae — Albatrosses

Breeding range

Southern Ocean: high-latitude islands of South Georgia, Prince Edward (s of South Africa, sw South Atlantic Ocean), Crozet (s of Madagascar), Heard and Kerguelen (sw to se Indian Ocean)

Nonbreeding range

widespread all southern oceans