Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
While the Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) spends plenty of time riding air currents over the waves, its name actually derives from the wave-like pattern on this bird's brown body plumage. Like all members of the albatross family, including the Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses, this superlative glider spends most of its life over the open ocean. It is the only albatross species restricted to the tropics.
Also known as the Galápagos Albatross, the Waved Albatross has a 7- to 8-foot wingspan. Although it's the largest bird in the Galápagos, this species is just medium-sized for an albatross; the largest, the Wandering Albatross, has a wingspan of up to 12 feet!
Also known as: Galápagos Albatross
Learn more about the Waved Albatross: abcbirds.org/bird/waved-albatross
While the Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) spends plenty of time riding air currents over the waves, its name actually derives from the wave-like pattern on this bird's brown body plumage. Like all members of the albatross family, including the Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses, this superlative glider spends most of its life over the open ocean. It is the only albatross species restricted to the tropics.
Also known as the Galápagos Albatross, the Waved Albatross has a 7- to 8-foot wingspan. Although it's the largest bird in the Galápagos, this species is just medium-sized for an albatross; the largest, the Wandering Albatross, has a wingspan of up to 12 feet!
Also known as: Galápagos Albatross
Learn more about the Waved Albatross: abcbirds.org/bird/waved-albatross
