Table of Contents
Discover what life is like for some of the biggest birds to roam the planet
Some of the largest birds on the planet are able to spread their wings wider than a king-size bed and stand taller than any NBA player.
Earth is home to about 10,000 different species of birds, ranging in size and shape from the tiny hummingbird to the gigantic ostrich.
These are the largest birds that have ever lived on Earth, with the tallest, heaviest and widest wingspans.
WANDERING ALBATROSS (DIOMEDEA EXULANS)
Introducing the largest bird on the planet, at least as long as its wingspan. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) states that these seabirds can have a wingspan of about 11 feet (3.35 m), allowing them to glide over the sea. These albatrosses can soar for long periods of time due to their huge wingspan; A bird travels 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) in just 12 days.
There are 23 species of albatross, but all but one are threatened with extinction due to threats to their existence. Because, birds get caught in fishing hooks when they take fish and squid bait from fishing vessels and trawlers.
OSTRICH (STRUTHIO CAMELUS)
The ostrich is undoubtedly the largest bird on earth both in terms of size and weight. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance says these massive birds can reach 9 feet (2.7 meters) in height and weigh up to 287 pounds (130 kilograms). Ostriches can have wingspans of up to 7 feet (2 m), yet they cannot fly. Rather, they propel themselves like a ship using sails.
These birds spread their wings and use them as air rudders to brake and turn quickly during a violent 43 mph run. Due to their agility, they are able to fend off some of the numerous predators of the African savanna, including lions and foxes.According to PBS Nature, ostriches attack and use their sharp claws to strike hard enough to kill a lion.
GREATER RHEA (RHEA AMERICANA)
Although these birds look immature, rheas are relatives of the South American ostrich. According to the Smithsonian’s National Institute of Zoo and Conservation Biology, the rhea can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and an astonishing 66 pounds (30 kilograms), but is only one-fifth the size of an adult ostrich. According to the Houston Zoo, rheas are flightless birds that, like ostriches, gallop at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour to balance on their wings. During the mating season, a female rhea can lay up to 40 eggs; However, males of the species must incubate the eggs for about 30 days before hatching.
CASSOWARY (CASUARIUS CASUARIUS)
The southern cassowary is one of the most ape-like birds for monkeys in New Guinea and mainland Australia. According to the Australian Museum, cassowaries are among the tallest birds on Earth, reaching heights of up to 6 feet (2 meters). Their striking casque helmets, which are made of a thick coating of keratin – the same substance that makes up your hair and nails tower over their height. According to Edinburgh Zoo, cassowaries use their helmets to push aside trees as they move through the forest.
They have earned the reputation of being one of the largest bird species in addition to being one of the most endangered bird species. The cassowary, one of the few birds known to kill people, does the job With their middle toe measuring 4 inches (10 centimeters) long, their sharp 3-clawed feet allow them to deliver a fatal swipe to their prey, according to Scientific American.
DALMATIAN PELICAN (PELECANUS CRISPUS)
The Dalmatian pelican is not only the largest species in the world, but also one of the largest flying birds. The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation says these pelicans, which have wingspans of about 11 feet (3 meters), are high flyers that have been seen reaching 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).
Dalmatian pelicans have large wingspans and voracious appetites. In one day, an adult pelican can eat up to 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of fish, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. This amount of fish is collected by Dalmatian pelicans, which dive into the water and retrieve fish near the surface with their large bill pouches. After catching the fish inside their bills, the pelicans will lean their heads forwards to strain out the water and devour their meal.
SHOEBILL (BALAENICEPS REX)
Shoebills, also known as whale-headed storks, are one of Africa’s tallest and strangest birds. According to Animal Diversity Web, these exotic crayfish are about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and spend their time hunting fish and other small aquatic life while paddling through freshwater marshes and swamps. According to the organization BirdLife International, shoebills are highly successful hunters that attack in water about 60% of the time. These solitary birds typically live within an area of about one square mile (3 square kilometers) and are not seen in groups.
GREAT BUSTARD (OTIS TARDA)
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says the Great Bustard is the largest land bird in Europe, although it is also found in Central Asia, Russia and Morocco. Males are an easy target for hunters because they can weigh up to 31 pounds (14 kilograms) and stand about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall.
As a result, according to BirdLife International, their numbers have been declining over time (losing more than 30% of their global population since the 1960s) and they have become extinct nationwide in certain places such as the United Kingdom. The last great bustard was killed in the UK in 1832, but it was reintroduced in 2004 and, according to the RSPB, is now a self-sustaining colony of around 100 birds to the BBC.
EMPEROR PENGUIN (APTENODYTES FORSTERI)
Emperor penguins are the largest of the 18 species of penguins found in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). They weigh about 88 pounds (40 kilograms) and stand about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall, although this number varies throughout the year.
The Australian Department for Agriculture, Water and Environment says these flightless birds use their fat stores, as well as multiple layers of scale-like feathers that can withstand winds of up to 68 miles per hour, to fiercely protect themselves. Antarctic winter. Emperor penguin colonies work together to reduce heat loss by 50% and maintain colony temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius), in addition to their own insulation huddle.
ANDEAN CONDOR (VULTUR GRYPHUS)
According to the San Diego Wildlife Alliance, the Andean condor is the world’s largest raptor species and has the second-longest wingspan of any bird, measuring about 10.5 feet (3.2 m). According to the Welsh Mountain Zoo, in addition to their remarkable wingspan, these birds can soar across the peaks of the Andes at altitudes of up to 18,000 feet (5,500 meters). These birds can easily travel on air currents without using much energy due to their huge wingspan.
According to San Diego Wildlife, Andean condors are a type of vulture that, like many other vulture species, scavenge dead or dying animals, often eating up to 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of carrion (dead or decaying meat). food Alliance. Andean condors also have long lifespans, living up to 80 years in captivity and about 50 years in the wild, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society of Peru.
READ | Top 10 Largest Living Birds in the World
READ | North America’s 10 Most Beautiful Birds
1 thought on “9 of the Amazing world’s largest birds”