Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Snowy Albatross
Diomedea exulans
Snowy Albatross (Diomedea exulans) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Snowy Albatross (Diomedea exulans) is a member of the Diomedeidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Diomedeidae Albatrosses
- Genus Diomedea
- Species exulans
Where it lives
High-latitude islands of South Georgia, Prince Edward (south of South Africa, southwestern South Atlantic Ocean), Crozet (south of Madagascar), Heard and Kerguelen (southwest to southeastern Indian Ocean)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Diomedeidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Snowy Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Snowy Albatross is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Snowy Albatross (Diomedea exulans) is a species of bird in the Diomedeidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO 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).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 7 kg, with a wing length of about 63.4 cm and a tail of around 21.1 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 97.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Snowy Albatross?
The Snowy Albatross is a very large bird that weighs around 7 kg.
Where does the Snowy Albatross live?
The Snowy Albatross is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO 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), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Snowy Albatross belong to?
The Snowy Albatross (Diomedea exulans) belongs to the Diomedeidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Snowy Albatross eat?
The Snowy Albatross hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Snowy Albatross migrate?
The Snowy Albatross is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Snowy Albatross endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Snowy Albatross make?
1 real field recording of the Snowy Albatross — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Snowy Albatross's range?
The Snowy Albatross has a mapped global range of about 97.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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