Laysan Albatross: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wings over Water · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. Wisdom, a Laysan albatross first banded in 1956, is the oldest known wild bird. In 2024 she laid what is thought to be her 60th egg.
2. Young birds choose a partner they keep for life. Their courtship is a dance with up to 25 set moves.
3. On Oahu, some pairs are two females. Researchers give them eggs moved from unsafe nests, such as on airfields, and they raise the chicks.
4. A pair has a single egg, which both parents keep warm for about 65 days. The chick then needs about 160 days before it can fly.
5. It is usually a quiet bird, but it can make long mooing sounds like a cow, falling whinnies and rattles.

The quiz

1. What is Wisdom, the Laysan albatross, famous for?

• Flying around the world without landing
• Being the oldest known wild bird (correct)
• Being the largest albatross ever measured
• Diving deeper than any other bird

Banded in 1956, Wisdom holds the record as the world's oldest known wild bird.

2. How many set moves can a Laysan albatross courtship dance have?

• Up to 3
• Up to 6
• Up to 10
• Up to 25 (correct)

Their courtship dances can include up to 25 ritual movements.

3. How have female-female pairs helped conservation in Hawaii?

• They chase rats off the islands
• They raise chicks from eggs moved out of unsafe nests (correct)
• They build nests for other seabirds
• They lead lost birds back to sea

Researchers give them eggs from unsafe sites, and they hatch and raise the chicks.

4. How long do the parents keep the egg warm before it hatches?

• About 65 days (correct)
• About 10 days
• About 1 year
• About 20 days

Both parents take turns, and incubation lasts about 65 days.

5. Which sound can a Laysan albatross make?

• A sweet whistled song
• A loud hoot like an owl
• A long moo like a cow (correct)
• A sharp bark like a dog

Though usually silent, it can give long mooing calls, whinnies and rattles.

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