There are about 10,000 species of birds on Earth and they all come in different shapes and sizes – from the tiny hummingbird to the giant ostrich. Here are the 10 largest birds to ever live on our planet, including those with the tallest, heaviest, and furthest winged.
Some of the biggest birds on earth can stand taller than any NBA player and have wingspans wider than a king size bed.
10 Biggest Birds
1. Common Ostrich [Struthio Camelus]
The largest of all birds on earth, both in size and weight, is undoubtedly the ostrich. According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, these giant birds stand up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and can weigh up to 287 pounds (130 kilograms). Despite having a wingspan of up to 7 feet (2 meters), ostriches cannot fly. Instead they use their wings in the same way a ship uses its sails.
During races up to 43 mph, these birds open their wings and use them as air-rudders for rapid braking and steering. This agility enables them to avoid many of the threats facing the African Savanna, including predatory species. Like the lion and the fox. According to PBS Nature, in some situations, ostriches become aggressive and use their powerful clawed feet to kill a lion.
2. Great bustard (Otis tarda)
According to The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), great bustards are the largest land bird in Europe, but they are also found in Central Asia, Russia and Morocco. Males can weigh up to 31 pounds (14 kg) and are about 4 feet (1.2 m) in length, making them easy targets for hunters.
As a result, their numbers have been declining over the years – over 30% of the global population has been destroyed since the 1960s, according to BirdLife International – and are nationally extinct in some countries such as the United Kingdom. Are. According to the RSPB, the last Great Bustard was shot in the UK in 1832, but it was reintroduced in 2004 and according to the BBC, there is currently a self-sustaining population of over 100 birds.
3. Harpy Eagle (harpia harpyja)
Named after a human-bird hybrid from ancient Greek mythology, harpy eagles are some of the largest birds on Earth. These dark brown birds are among the largest eagle species on Earth, especially when their weight is compared.
According to the San Diego Zoo, adult females can weigh up to 20 pounds (9 kg) and males can weigh up to 12 pounds (5.4 kg). In comparison, a bald eagle in the US can weigh up to 14 pounds (6 kg). According to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
These birds fly throughout South America, soaring high with their impressive 6.5-foot (2 m) wingspan in search of prey. When prey such as porcupines, deer and opossums come into view, harpy eagles swoop down at speeds of up to 50 mph (80 kph) and use their 5-inch (13-centimeter) talons to deliver a lethal attack. use, according to the San Diego Zoo.
4. Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus)
The Dalmatian pelican is not only the largest pelican species, but also one of the largest flying birds in the world. With a wingspan of about 11 feet (3 m), these pelicans are high fliers and have been observed reaching altitudes of over 10,000 feet (3,000 m), according to the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation. With a large pair of wings, the Dalmatian pelican also has a voracious appetite.
According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, an adult pelican can eat about 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of fish in a day. Dalmatian pelicans use their huge bill pouches to dive into the water and catch fish near the surface. Pelicans will tilt their heads forward to scoop up water and eat food.
5. Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)
Meet the world’s largest bird, at least in terms of its wingspan. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these seabirds soar over the ocean with a wingspan of about 11 feet (3.35 meters). Wings of this size mean that these albatrosses can spend a lot of time in the sky – for example – one bird has been recorded traveling some 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) in just 12 days.
There are 23 species of albatross, although all but one are either endangered or threatened or at risk of extinction. This occurs when birds become entangled in fishing hooks while fishing vessels and trawlers remove fish and squid bait.
6. Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus)
According to the San Diego Wildlife Alliance, the Andean condor is the largest species of raptor on the planet and has the second-longest wingspan of any bird – spanning about 10.5 feet (3.2 meters). With their impressive wingspan, these birds can fly as high as 18,000 feet (5,500 meters) above the peaks of the Andes, according to the Welsh Mountain Zoo.
Due to their large wings, these birds can easily survive on air currents without expending much energy. Andean condors are a species of vulture, and unlike many vulture species, they are not primarily hunters and extract their food from dying or dead animals.
According to the Wildlife Conservation Society of Peru, the Andean condor has a lifespan of about 50 years in the wild and up to 80 years in captivity, eating about 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of carrion (dead or rotting flesh) per individual. Food according to San Diego Wildlife Alliance.
7. Greate Rhea [Rhea Americana]
Although these birds look like juvenile ostriches, rheas are their South American cousins. At only one-fifth the size of an adult ostrich, rheas can still weigh an impressive 66 pounds (30 kilograms) and grow up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
According to the Houston Zoo, rheas are flightless birds and, like ostriches, use their wings for balance while running at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. A female rhea lays up to 40 eggs per breeding season, but males of this species incubate the eggs for about 30 days before they hatch.
8. Shoebill Storks (Balaeniceps Rex)
Also known as the whale-headed stork, the shoebill is one of the strangest and loudest birds in Africa. According to Animal Diversity Web, these strange crayfish grow to about 5 feet (1.5 m) long and spend their time hunting fish and other small aquatic life in freshwater marshes and swamps.
As a predator, shoebills have a high success rate and about 60% of the time they launch a fatal attack in water, according to the charity BirdLife International. These solitary birds are not found in flocks and often cover an area of about 1 square mile (3 square kilometres).
9. Cassowaries (Casuarius)
The southern cassowary is one of the most prehistoric-looking birds that roamed New Guinea and mainland Australia. At 6 feet (2 meters) tall, the cassowary is one of the tallest birds on Earth, according to the Australian Museum. To reduce their height is a prominent helmet called a cask, which is made of a thick layer of keratin – the same material that makes up your fingernails and hair.
According to Edinburgh Zoo, cassowaries use these helmets to push back vegetation when moving through the woods. Being one of the largest species of birds, they have also earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous birds.
As one of the few birds recorded to have killed humans, according to Scientific American, the cassowary uses its sharp 3-toed feet—the middle of which is a 4-inch (10 cm) long toe—to kill humans. Which gives one fatal swipe. Target.
10. Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), emperor penguins are the largest of all 18 species of penguins on Earth. They grow to about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall and weigh about 88 pounds (40 kg), although this fluctuates regularly throughout the year.
According to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, these flightless birds use their fat stores to protect themselves from the harsh conditions of the Antarctic winter, as well as multiple layers of scale-like feathers that can extend up to 68 miles. Withstands winds of up to 100mph per hour.
In addition to their own insulation, emperor penguins huddle together in colonies to reduce heat loss by up to 50% and create temperatures that exceed 75 °F (24 °C) inside the herd.