The largest bird that can avoid landing for years is the albatross. Before arriving on land to mate, they soar over the ocean for the first six years of their lives. Albatrosses may fly around the world in 46 days and cover more than 10,000 miles in a single trip.

Albatrosses are also able to conserve energy by soaring. They can glide for long distances without flapping their wings, taking advantage of the wind currents. Albatrosses also have a low metabolic rate, which means that they don’t need to eat as much as other birds.

The Albatross in Danger

What Can We Do to Help Albatrosses?