Wandering Albatross - Bird with largest wingspan

Wandering albatross, snowy albatross or white-winged albatross, is a large seabird from the family Diomedeidae, which has a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean. It was the first species of albatross to be described, and was long considered the same species as the Tristan Albatross and the Antipodean Albatross.  The “Wandering Albatross” has been declared as the bird with largest wingspan among all the living birds. Its wingspan on average ranges from 8.2 to 11.5 feet (2.51 to 3.50 meter). Larger wingspans of about 13.8 and 17 feet have been reported but they were not verified. The largest wingspan bird Wandering Albatross ever recorded was about 11 feet and 11 inches. Since it is a largest wingspan bird, which makes it a skilled gliding bird with the capability to float in the air for several hours without flapping its wings. It flies for about a distance of 22 meter for a single meter drop. However some book also names Marabou storks as the largest wing span bird. This powerful and large bird with long wings is found in African continent. One interesting fact about this largest wingspan bird in the world is that it also sleeps while flying!

Some facts about Wandering Albatross:
Type: Bird   
Diet: Carnivore   
Average life span in the wild: Up to 50 years   
Size: Wingspan, 6.5 to 11 ft (2 to 3.4 m)   
Weight: Up to 22 lbs (10 kg)   
Group name: Flock