Albatross

An albatross aloft can be a spectacular sight. These feathered giants have the longest wingspan of any bird—up to 11 feet! The wandering albatrossis the biggest of some two dozen different species. Albatrosses use their formidable wingspans to ride the ocean winds and sometimes to glide for hours without rest or even a flap of their wings. They also float on the sea's surface, though the position makes them vulnerable to aquatic predators. Albatrosses drink salt water, as do some other sea birds.

Description
The Albatross is the largest flying bird in the world, with wingspans reaching four metres in length. Resembling gigantic seagulls, the Albatross is an oceanic bird, capable of extreme long distance flight; in fact, they have been known to remain airborne for years at a time, returning to land only to nest and rear their young (which may take up to a year). Besides their colossal size, they can identified by their pure white plumage, often possessing black or even yellow patches. For centuries, they were the object of marine superstitions; sailors of old believed that to see one was to ensure good luck for a maritime voyage, and that shooting one brought bad luck on the entire crew.