Amsterdam Albatross vs Wandering Albatross
Diomedea amsterdamensis compared with Diomedea exulans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amsterdam Albatross | Wandering Albatross |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Diomedea amsterdamensis | Diomedea exulans |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae | Diomedeidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | 117.0 cm (46.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 127.3 cm (50.1 in) | 320.0 cm (126.0 in) |
| Weight | 6466.666666666667 g (228.11 oz) | 9000.0 g (317.47 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Squid, fish, and crustaceans caught from the ocean surface, often at night. Follows fishing vessels … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Wandering Albatross
Open ocean of the Southern Hemisphere. Breeds on remote sub-Antarctic islands. Spends years at sea between breeding attempts.
Song & Call Comparison
Amsterdam Albatross
Wandering Albatross
At nesting colonies emits a loud braying 'waaah' and guttural grunts. Silent at sea for most of the year. Courtship involves ritualized mutual bill-clapping and moaning calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Amsterdam Albatross
Wandering Albatross
Southern Ocean circumpolar, breeding on South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, and other sub-Antarctic islands.
Conservation Status
Amsterdam Albatross
Wandering Albatross
How to Tell Them Apart
Amsterdam Albatross
Wandering Albatross
Adults are mostly white with black trailing edges to the wings. Juveniles are chocolate brown, whitening progressively over 5-10 years. Pink bill and pale feet.
Very large pink bill with a hooked tip and visible tubular nostrils
About These Birds
Amsterdam Albatross
Amsterdam Albatross, 100–110 cm, is Critically Endangered with fewer than 100 breeding pairs, restricted to Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Closely related to Antipodean Albatross. Pelagic across Indian Ocean. Threatened by longline fishing, disease, and the tiny, isolated population size.
Wandering Albatross
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, reaching up to 3.5 meters. These oceanic nomads can circumnavigate the globe, covering over 120,000 km per year using dynamic soaring with minimal wing flapping. Pairs mate for life and may live over 60 years.