Informative, Miscellaneous, Trivia

Did You Know?

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Which bird has the largest wingspan in the world?

© Smithsonian Channel

The wandering albatross boasts the largest wingspan of any living bird, stretching up to an astonishing 11 feet across. This enormous wingspan allows the albatross to glide effortlessly and gracefully over the open ocean for hours without flapping its wings, conserving precious energy during its remarkably long migrations that can span thousands of miles across the globe. While the Andean condor, marabou stork, and great white pelican also have impressively wide wingspans, none come close to matching the majestic reach of the wandering albatross.

Albatrosses are not generally considered friendly, but some species are known for a curious and even playful disposition towards humans. While they don’t seek a relationship with people, some species are comfortable in human-inhabited areas such as the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. 

Albatrosses are largely threatened with extinction, with most species considered vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As a protected species in many countries under federal law, there is a fine for killing an albatross. The specific penalties vary based on the jurisdiction and the circumstances of the offense. Intentional acts of cruelty carry much heavier fines and potential jail time than accidental deaths. The primary threat is bycatch (unintentional catch) in commercial longline fisheries, where the birds are caught on fishing hooks, but other factors like habitat loss, climate change, and pollution also contribute to their decline.

World Albatross Day is celebrated annually on June 19th.

You heard it here first, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

This is “Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac

This is a lovely 4 minute video from the Smithsonian Channel about the Northern Royal albatross.

All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

36 thoughts on “Did You Know?”

    1. Isn’t it an incredible bird? I’d love to see one in person, and not in a zoo but gliding in the sky. What a sight that would be!
      I’m a big fan of Trivial Pursuit which is why I started this blog; it’s great fun for me and I always learn something, too.
      “Albatross” is a great song by Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. 🎶♡

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      1. It was a fantastic and unforgettable experience Nancy. I was asked to change seats with a woman who was terribly sea sick (I tend to be too, but I was too excited to be honest) and she saw nothing but the inside of a brown paper bag or 10. The cabin crew were wonderful with her.

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  9. Me too, …as in not knowing about Albatrosses , …you’re educating us all Nancy, … (and I watched Monty Python clip as well, …thanks to Clive ). it looks a beautiful bird, but not one I’ve ever seen except in a film, and photos as above, … let’s hope the extinction level lifts, …💙

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  10. L learned a lot about the albatross from reading your post, Nancy. An albatross plays a prominent part in the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Having an albatross hung around your neck means to be burdened by a persistent problem, a heavy sense of guilt, or an unfortunate situation that hinders your progress and success. One stroke less than an eagle in golf is called an albatross.

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