Albatrosses: The Biggest Flying Birds 信天翁：世界上最大的飛鳥

Juno

鳥的飛行極限在哪里？據研究人員統計，成年信天翁一年飛行的距離可繞地球三圈，一只信天翁一生的飛行距離可超600萬公里，相當于在地球與月球之間往返八次！這是地球上最能飛的鳥，也是世界上最大的飛鳥。

Albatrosses are big， 1）majestic birds that can be found soaring above most of the world's oceans. Most albatross habitats are in the Southern 2）Hemisphere. Only 3 albatross species reside in the North Pacific. Albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds. Albatross has the largest 3）wingspan among bird species， growing up to 6.5-11 feet. And one species， great albatrosses have the longest wingspans of any extant birds， reaching up to 12 feet.

Albatrosses are among the most 4）spectacular gliders of all birds， able to stay 5）aloft in windy weather for hours without ever flapping their extremely long， narrow wings. In calm air an albatross has trouble keeping its 6）stout body airborne and prefers to rest

1） majestic [m??d?est?k] adj.雄偉的

2） hemisphere [?hem?sf??（r）] n.半球

3） wingspan [?w??sp?n] n.翼展

4） spectacular [spek?t?kj?l?（r）] adj.壯觀的

5） aloft [??l?ft] adv.在空中

6） stout [sta?t] adj.粗壯的

on the water surface.

Albatrosses， just like their fellow oceanic birds， drink seawater. Albatrosses feed primarily on squid. Albatrosses have a special place in 7）maritime lore and 8）superstition. Seamen once held albatrosses in 9）considerable awe; they held that killing an albatross would bring bad luck.

In spite of often being accorded legendary status， albatrosses have not escaped either indirect or direct pressure from humans. Now， of the 21 albatross species recognised by IUCN on their Red List， 19 are threatened， and the other two are near threatened. Three species （as recognised by the IUCN） are considered critically 10）endangered.

7） maritime [?m?r?ta?m] adj.海的;海事的

8） superstition [?su?p??st??n] n.迷信

9） considerable [k?n?s?d?r?bl] adj.相當多的

10） endanger [?n?de?nd??（r）] v.危害

信天翁是大而了不起的鳥類，人們發現它們在世界大多數海洋上飛翔。大多數信天翁棲息于南半球，只有3種信天翁居住在北太平洋。信天翁是最大的飛鳥之一，翼展在鳥類中最大，長到6.5—11英尺，而其中的一種——大信天翁的翼展是所有鳥類中最長的，達12英尺。

信天翁是所有鳥類中最善于滑翔的，能夠在大風天氣中停留高空數小時，而無需拍打它們極其長而狹窄的翅膀。在無風的天氣中，信天翁很難保持其粗壯的身體停留在空中，所以會在水面上休息。

信天翁，就像其他的海鳥一樣，喝海水。它們主要以觥魚為食，在海洋傳說和迷信中有著特殊的地位，海員曾經相當敬畏信天翁：他們認為殺死信天翁會帶來壞運氣。

盡管信天翁經常被賦予傳奇的地位，但它們并沒有逃脫來自人類間接或直接的壓力。目前，在世界自然保護聯盟紅色名錄上確認的21種信天翁中，有19種受到威脅，另外2 種瀕臨威脅。3種信天翁（世界自然保護聯盟已確認）被列為極危物種。