World's oldest known breeding bird lays egg at age 66

Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, at least 66 years old and the world's oldest known breeding wild bird incubates her egg in Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial, Hawaii, U.S. on December 3, 2016. Courtesy photo from Kristina McOmber/Kupu Conservation Leadership Program & USFWS

SEATTLE - - Wisdom the albatross, the world's oldest known breeding bird in the wild, has laid an egg at 66 years of age after returning to a wildlife refuge in the Pacific Ocean, U.S.wildlife officials said on Tuesday.

The large seabird with thick pearly white chest feathers and charcoal colored wings can be seen in photos posted by the agency on social media incubating her egg between her webbed feet at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the world's largest albatross colony.

While it was not known when she laid her egg—her 41st—it was likely in the past few days, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) said.

Wisdom was discovered by a volunteer surveying a refuge duck population on Dec. 3, and photos of the egg were posted in recent days.

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