What species is the oldest known wild bird, named Wisdom?

Wisdom, the oldest known wild bird, is a Laysan albatross.

Wisdom is a wild female Laysan albatross identified by the USGS band number Z333. She was first banded at Midway Atoll in 1956 by ornithologist Chandler Robbins. Because Laysan albatrosses do not begin breeding until roughly five years old, she was already an adult when first recorded, making her minimum age far greater than the number of years since banding.

Wisdom became famous because she repeatedly returned to Midway Atoll to breed and produce chicks. Her long life is especially remarkable for a seabird that spends much of its time flying across the North Pacific. USGS estimates indicate that she has traveled millions of miles during her lifetime. In 2006, a US Fish and Wildlife Service biologist named her Wisdom while replacing her identification band.

The answer is sometimes confused with other long-lived albatross species, such as the wandering or royal albatross. Those birds can also live for many decades, but Wisdom’s identity is specifically tied to the Laysan albatross. Her age is a minimum estimate because she was already mature when scientists first banded her.