When you purchase through links on our site , we may earn an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it works .
Some of the biggest fowl on Earth can stand taller than any NBA actor and distribute their wings broad than king size bed .
There are almost 10,000 coinage of hoot on Earth and they get along in all different conformation and sizes — from the flyspeck bee hummingbird to the massive ostrich . Here are 12 of the big snort to inhabit our planet , including the magniloquent , heaviest and those whose wings spread the furthest .
Ostriches are the world’s biggest birds, reaching up to 9 feet tall.
Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer)
Sometimes called " undertaker birds " because of their dark , cloak - same wings and fancy for rot carcase , marabou storks are muscular creatures , abide at around 5 feet ( 1.5 meters ) tall and matter up to 20 pound ( 9 kilogram ) . They are the magnanimous stork species in the cosmos , with awingspan of 8.5 ft ( 2.6 m ) .
Marabou storks are plant across sub - Saharan Africa and are scavengers , principally feeding on carrion . A denuded head is a cardinal adaptation to this lifestyle , as it helps forbid the birds from getting covered in blood when they stick their promontory inside a deadened animal , which could cause health issues , agree to the Cleveland Zoological Society . They also possess tremendous pharynx pouches used in courtship rituals and commonly mate for life .
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
The Dromaius novaehollandiae is the 2d tallest species of bird on Earth , after the Struthio camelus . They are the biggest birds in Australia , get hold of up to 6.2 foot ( 1.9 m ) in summit . They are flightless shuttle , with long , powerful legs that enable them to bunk at up to 31 mph ( 50 km / h ) , according to theSmithsonian ’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute . Emus are nomadic birds that cast across the state , move long distance bet on the handiness of food and water .
Emus are loosely lone birds but amount together to couple and raise young . Males incubate the eggs and do n’t leave the nest to use up , drink or defecate , grant to the Australian Museum . The parents stay together for around five months , at which distributor point their young are able to feed themselves .
Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja)
diagnose after a human - razz loanblend in ancient Greek mythology , harpy eagle are some of the biggest birds onEarth . These dark grey wench are among the largest species of eagle on Earth , particularly when comparing their weight . An adult female can weigh up to 20 pounds ( 9 kilo ) and males grow up to 12 pounds ( 5.4 kg ) , harmonize toSan Diego Zoo . In comparison , thebald eaglecan press up to 14 pound sterling ( 6 kg ) , concord to theU.S Fish & Wildlife Service . These birds soar across South America , save aloft by their impressive 6.5 metrical foot ( 2 m ) wingspan , trace for prey . When their quarry is in stack , such asporcupines , deerandopossums , harpy eagle descend at speeds of 50 mi per hour ( 80 kilometer per hour ) and use their 5 column inch ( 13 centimeter ) claw to deliver a fatal blow to their target , consort to the San Diego Zoo .
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans)
Meet the biggest Bronx cheer in the world , at least in term of its wingspan . These sea birds glide over the ocean with a wingspan of up to almost 11 foundation ( 3.35 m ) , according to theInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN ) . Wings of this size mean that these albatross can spend magnanimous amounts of meter in the sky — for exercise — one bird was recorded to have wandered around 3,700 miles ( 6,000 kilometer ) in only 12 solar day .
There are 23 species ofalbatross , however all but one are either threatened or endangered or vulnerable to experimental extinction . This is due to the birds getting caught in sportfishing hooks while salvage fish and squid sweetener from fishing vessels and trawlers .
Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
The biggest of all the bird on Earth , both in size and weight , is undoubtedly the Struthio camelus . These colossus razzing grow up to 9 understructure ( 2.7 m ) tall and can weigh up to 287 pounding ( 130 kg ) , consort toSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance . Despite make a wingspread of up to 7 feet ( 2 m ) , ostriches are unable to fly . Instead they apply their wings in a similar direction to how a ship uses its sail .
– The macrocosm ’s fastest animals
– Top 10 Deadliest Animals ( Photos )
Emus are Australia’s biggest birds and are found across the country.
– The longest - living animals on land
– 6 weird animals that development came up with
During a violent 43 mile per time of day run , these birds open out their offstage and apply them as melodic line - rudder for rapid braking and steering .. This lightsomeness enables them to get out some of the many threats they face on the African savannah , including predatory coinage such aslionsandjackals . In some site , ostrich will go on the offensive and use their powerful claw feet to birth a blow strong enough to kill a lion , according toPBS Nature .
Harpy eagles can be found in the tropical lowlands forests of southeastern Mexico.
Greater rhea (Rhea americana)
Although these birds might look like a juvenileostrich , rhea are in fact their South American cousin-german . At only around one fifth part of the size of an grownup Struthio camelus , rhea can still count an impressive 66 pounds ( 30 kilo ) and develop up to 5 feet tall ( 1.5 m ) , accord to theSmithsonian ’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute . Rhea are flightless birds , and like ostriches use their extension as correspondence aids while running at high speeds of up to 40 naut mi per 60 minutes , harmonize to theHouston Zoo . Female nandu lie up to 40 eggs per education time of year , but it is the male of the species that will indicate the egg for around 30 days before they cover .
Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)
The southern cassowary is one of the most prehistorical - search birds to prowl through New Guinea and mainland Australia . loom up to 6 feet ( 2 m ) tall , cassowary ’s are one of the tallest birds on Earth , according to theAustralian Museum . top off their superlative is a salient helmet called a casque which is made of a blockheaded layer of keratin — the same cloth that makes up your nails and hair . cassowary use these helmets to advertise retiring vegetation as they run through the forest , according to theEdinburgh Zoo . As well as being one of the biggest bird species , they have also gained the repute of being one of the most dangerous . As one of the few birds record to have killed homo , cassowary uses their sharp 3 - toed feet — which sports a middle 4 column inch ( 10 centimeter ) long toe — to save a fatal swipe to its object , agree toScientific American .
Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus)
The Dalmatian pelican is not only the largest species of pelican but is one of the biggest flying birds in the mankind . With a wingspread of around 11 foot ( 3 m ) , these pelicans are eminent flyers and have been observe to reach altitudes of more than 10,000 foot ( 3,000 metre ) , grant to theArizona Center for Nature Conservation . Along with a crowing pair of annexe , Dalmatian pelican also have a big appetite . An grownup pelican can consume around 4 pounds ( 1.8 kg of Pisces in a single day , according toSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance . Dalmatian pelicans gather this amount of fish by using their enormous bill bulge to dive into the water and outdo out fish near the surface . Once the fish are trapped inside their bills , the pelican will run their point forward to strain out the water system and devour their repast .
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)
Also know as giant - maneuver storks , shoebillsare one of Africa ’s strangest and tallest birds . These foreign birds , which are n’t really stork , stand at around 5 metrical foot ( 1.5 m ) improbable and spend their time ram amongst freshwater swamps and fenland hunting Pisces the Fishes and other lowly aquatic species , agree to theAnimal Diversity Web . As hunter , Balaeniceps rex have a high success rate and deliver a fatal strike into the water around 60 % of the time , agree to the charityBirdLife International . These solitary razz are not discover in flocks and often occupy a territory of around 1 square mi ( 3 solid km ) .
Great bustard (Otis tarda)
keen bustard are the largest terra firma dame in Europe , but are also found in Central Asia , Russia and Morocco harmonise toThe Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( RSPB ) . male can weigh up to 31 pounds ( 14 kilo ) and stand almost 4 feet ( 1.2 m ) improbable , which also mean they are an sluttish butt for Hunter . Consequently , their numbers have been in diminution throughout the old age — more than 30 % of the global population lost since the 1960s — and become across the country extinct in some countries such as the United Kingdom , agree toBirdLife International . According toRSPB , the last great bustard was shot in 1832 in the UK , but was reintroduced in 2004 and currently houses a self - sustaining population of more than 100 birds , allot to theBBC .
Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)
Of all the 18 species of penguins on Earth , Saturnia pavonia penguins are the biggest , according to theWorld Wildlife Fund ( WWF ) . They abide around 4 pes ( 1.2 m ) tall and count around 88 pounds ( 40 kg ) , however this fluctuate on a regular basis throughout the year . These flightless birds utilise their productive memory board to insulate themselves against the abrasive conditions of theAntarcticwinter , along with several layer of scale - like feathers which would resist up to 68 miles per hour winds before they ruffled , allot tothe Australian Department for Agriculture , Water and the Environment . In gain to their own detachment , emperor penguin cower together in colony to cut down heat loss by 50 % and create a temperature of above 75 degrees Fahrenheit ( 24 degree Celsius ) inside the huddle .
Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
The Andean condor is the largest species of raptor on the planet and the secondly - largest wingspread of any bird — which spans around 10.5 foot ( 3.2 m ) , according tothe San Diego Wildlife Alliance . Along with their impressive wingspan , these birds can ascend to heights of up to 18,000 feet ( 5,500 m ) passing over the peaks of the Andes , according toWelsh Mountain Zoo . Due to their large wingspan , these birds can globe on air current with relief without throw out much energy . Andean condors are a species of vulture and like many vulture mintage , are n’t predominantly Orion and scavenge their food from dying or deceased animal . around 15 pounds ( 6.8 kilo ) of carrion ( dead or decompose flesh ) in a unmarried repast , fit in to San Diego Wildlife Alliance . The Andean condor also has a retentive lifespan of around 50 old age in the wilderness and up to 80 years while in immurement , concord to theWildlife Conservation Society Peru .
Additional resources
For more information about birds from around the world visit on-line database such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( RSPB)webpage , Birds of the Worldby Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the IUCNRed List . For more on birdevolution , check out " How razzing Evolve : What Science unwrap about Their Origin , Lives , and Diversity " by Douglas J. Futuyma and " The Ascent of Birds : How Modern Science Is let out Their Story " by John Reilly .
Bibliography
Josep Del Hoyo , " All the Birds of the World " , Lynx Edicions , August 2020 .
Dominic Couzens , " Extreme Birds : The World ’s Most over-the-top and Bizarre Birds " , Firefly Books , August 2011 .
Rob Hume , " RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe " , DK , August 2020 .
A pair of albatross flying over snowy mountains in South Georgia Island, Antarctica.
Peter Harrison , Martin Perrow and Hans Larsson , " seafowl " , Lynx Edicions , June 2021 .
A male ostrich in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
A southern cassowary from Queensland Australia.
A Dalmatian pelican flying over Lake Kerkini, Greece.
A pair of great bustards in Wiltshire, England.
A colony of emperor penguin and their chicks on Snow Hill Island, Antarctica.
An Andean condor flying over Colca Canyon in southern Peru.
