Top 11 Largest Flying Birds in the World

Top 11 Largest Flying Birds- Most people are familiar with large flightless birds like the Ostrich and Emu, but you may be surprised to learn that there are also many large birds that can fly including some of the largest birds in the world. Here’s a list of 10 of the largest flying birds on earth and interesting facts about each one.

Of course, there are also huge birds. Birds like the Ostrich, Emu, as well as Rhea, for example, have developed over time to have small, useless wings that can’t maintain flight.

But what about the in-between birds—the ones who defy gravity despite pushing the limits of weight? These birds do exist—they’re enormous as well as rambunctious, with wingspan that dwarfs human height.

Vultures, bustards, swans, as well as other huge flying birds may be found in the sky as well as on the seas all over the world. These birds are large, weighing anything from 22 to 44 pounds. These big birds discover methods to fly despite their weight as well as the continual pull of gravity.

List of Top 11 Largest Flying Birds in the World

1 . Great Bustard (Otis tardo)

Part of the: Bustard Family (related to Cranes as well as Rails)

Weight: 18-44 pounds/8-20 kilograms

Wingspan: Males 7-8 feet/210-250 centimeters

Found in: Europe & across Central Asia

The Great Bustard of Europe as well as Central Asia is the world’s heaviest flying bird, taking first position. Ornithologists have discovered that the Great Bustard is capable of travelling nearly 2,000 kilometers, despite its maximum weight of 44 lbs. (1)

The Great Bustard may be found in grasslands as well as steppes, among other environments. Males outnumber girls by a wide margin. (2) Male Great Bustards have more vibrant colors as well as thin, long feathers around their beaks during mating season, like whiskers or a moustache!

2. Kori Bustard (Ardeotiskori)

Part of the: Bustard Family (related to Cranes as well as Rails)

Weight: 24-42 pounds/11-19 kilograms

Wingspan: Males 7.5-9 feet/230-275 centimeters

Found in: Eastern & Southern Africa

The ostrich, the world’s biggest non-flying bird, is found in Africa. But it might also be home to the Kori Bustard, the world’s biggest flying bird!

Though the Great Bustard of Europe as well as Central Asia is widely considered to be the world’s largest flying bird, the Kori Bustard’s size is equivalent to that of its distant Eurasian relative. The Kori Bustard feeds on plants, berries, snakes, as well as lizards in the African grasslands as well as savannah.

3. Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotisnigriceps)

Part of the: Bustard Family (related to Cranes as well as Rails)

Weight: 13-40 pounds/6-18 kilograms

Wingspan: Males 7-8 feet/210-250 centimeters

Found: sparingly on the Indian subcontinent

The Great Indian Bustard is the world’s third biggest flying bird. Unfortunately, this species is in grave danger of becoming extinct. With just 200 unique birds left on the planet, conservationists must struggle to safeguard this endangered species.

The Great India Bustard, like its distant bustard ancestors, lives on the Indian subcontinent’s grasslands, eating an omnivore’s diet suited for a bird of its size.

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4. Trumpeter Swan (Olor buccinator)

Part of the: Waterfowl Sub-family Anatidae (related to Ducks as well as Geese)

Weight: 21-38 pounds/9.5-17 kilograms

Wingspan: Males 6.6 feet/203 centimeters

Found in: North America

Trumpeter Swans are migratory ducks who spend their summers in Alaska as well as Western Canada as well as their winters in the continental United States. These graceful, snow-white birds create close ties with their partners as well as will frequently remain faithful until one of them dies.

The Trumpeter Swan is North America’s biggest waterfowl. It is not easy to take to the air! The Trumpeter Swan needs a running start, flapping its wings as well as paddling its feet across the surface of the water at the same time to gather enough speed to lift flight.

5. Mute Swan (Cygnasolor)

Part of the: Waterfowl Sub-family Anatidae (related to Ducks as well as Geese)

Weight: 22-31.5 pounds/10-14.3 kilograms

Wingspan: Males 6.8-7.8 feet/207-237 centimeters

Found: throughout the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, Asia)

Although Mute Swans may be spotted in North America, this majestic white bird is not native to the continent. The native range of the Mute Swan is found throughout Europe as well as Asia. The bird was brought to the United States in the nineteenth century to serve as a feature in city parks as well as ponds on vast estates.

The male Mute Swan is distinctive in that the black knob on its beak becomes larger during mating season, making it one of the easiest ways to tell the sexes apart.

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6. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)

Part of the: Waterfowl Sub-family Anatidae (related to Ducks as well as Geese)

Weight: 16.3-30.8 pounds/7.4-14 kilograms

Wingspan: 6.6-9 feet/200-275 centimeters

Found in: Europe, Central & Northern Asia. Occasionally in Alaska & Western U.S.

Another Eurasian bird that migrates widely between its summer as well as winter habitats is the Whooper Swan. Some Whooper Swans have even established themselves in North America, however only on the West Coast. By flying over the Bering Sea, these birds were able to establish themselves in America.

Whooper Swans, unlike their Mute Swan counterparts, lack the black knob above their beak. Instead, their beaks are formed like a long, angular, black as well as yellow slope.

7. Andean Condor (Vulturgryphus)

Part of the: Cathartidae family (New World Vultures)

Weight: Up to 30 pounds/Up to 13.6 kilograms

Wingspan: 10 feet/305 centimeters

Found in: South America, specifically in the as well ases Mountains

The Andean Condor is a high-altitude bird that lives in the as well Andes Mountains. Part of the reason these birds love steep cliffs is because their huge wings have an easier time catching the warm rising air, allowing them to soar with less effort.

Although the Andean Condor’s wings are not the largest, they have the biggest surface area. These solitary birds enjoy long lives but breed slowly, depositing only one egg every other year or so.

8. Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)

Part of the: Pelecaniformes family, medium to large-sized seabirds

Weight: 23.5-29 pounds/10.5-13 kilograms

Wingspan: 10.1-11.3 feet/310-345 centimeters

Found in: Europe & Asia

The Dalmatian Pelican is the biggest of the Pelecaniformes family of pelicans. These birds have a vast wing span of up to 11 feet. Fishing is done in groups by most pelicans, as well as the Dalmatian Pelican is no exception.

These birds frequently cooperate in groups, gliding calmly atop the water before plunging their heads beneath the surface to catch fish. Fish is the only food that the Dalmatian Pelican eats.

9. Cinereous Vulture or Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)

Part of: Old World Vulture

Weight: 15- 27.5 pounds/7-12.5 kilograms

Wingspan: 8-10 feet/250-295 centimeters

Found in: Europe & Asia

After the as well asean Condor, the Cinereous Vulture is the second biggest bird of prey. Vultures of this species may be found across Europe as well as Asia. Poisoning is one of the most serious hazards to this species.

When humans employ poison to eradicate mammalian pests, vultures like the Cinereous Vulture consume the corpses as well as swallow the poison. Many vulture populations as well as other birds of prey have been decimated as a result of this widespread issue.

10. Himalayan Vulture or Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayenis)

Part of: Old World Vulture

Weight: 18-26 pounds/8-12 kilograms

Wingspan: 9-10 feet/270-300cm

Found: only within Central Asia, specifically the Himalayan Mountains as well as the Tibetan Plateau

The Himalayan Vulture is a master of high-elevation flying. This bird is often seen gliding 5,000 meters above sea level among the high mountains that are home to the world’s highest peaks. These large birds use their massive wings as well as pockets of warm air to soar with minimal effort.

These birds do not migrate in the typical North-South or South-North pattern. Instead the Himalayan Vulture simply changes altitude to suit its feeding needs depending on the season.

11. Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)

Part of the: Diomedeidae family, which consists of large seabirds

Weight: Up to 22 pounds/10 kilograms

Wingspan: Males 8.2-11.8 feet/250-360 centimeters

Found: throughout the oceans in the Southern Hemisphere

The Wandering Albatross is quite a remarkable bird. It spends most of its life at sea as well as only returns to land to breed. Breeding pairs tend to mate for life but only rear one chick every other year.

This incredible bird is last on our list, coming in at 22 pounds. The real impressive feature of this bird is its wingspan. The Wandering Albatross has a massive 11-12 foot wingspan, which helps it glide effortlessly for hours on end!

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