Also called the Galapagos albatross, the waved albatross is the largest bird in the Galapagos. It has a wingspan of 6.5 ft (2m) and the ability to drink salt water and filter out the salt in a gland by their eyes. The salt is then excreted by nostril tubes through the bill.
	Albatrosses spend most of their time out at sea, eating squid, fish and invertebrates. They breed almost exclusively on Española in colonies. They mate for life, following a courtship dance. Females lay one egg, which both parents nurture for about seven months. After that, the young flies out to sea, and returns, after five to seven years, as a mature bird ready to mate.

More Galápagos Islands Photo Gallery

Read about the Galápagos Archipelago and

the Galápagos Islands

Photograph thanks to ArtToday.com

Descriptions and help from:

• Ecuador and its Galapagos Islands
  by David L. Pearson and Les Beletsky
• Galapagos Islands Born of Fire
  by Tui De Roy