AVITOPIA - Albatrosses

The family of Albatrosses lives in the oceans around the Antarctic up to 30 degrees southern latitude, only in the Pacific does the range extend to the Bering Sea to the north. Albatrosses are large, heavy birds with a body length of 70 cm to 135 cm. The wingspan can reach 370 cm, making it the largest among birds. The wings are long and narrow, the tail is short, and the feet are webbed. The strong hooked bill is covered with horn plates. Albatrosses form colonies on remote islands, where they prefer the wind side to be able to take off more easily. They have developed a special form of gliding, dynamic soaring. They land on the water to eat fish, octopus and other marine animals. They lay a single egg and some species take up to a year to fledge, so they can only raise young every two years. The chicks are altricial and are fed by both parents with regurgitated food.