What are the largest birds in the world? You must have been asking to know what the biggest birds in the world looks like, eg. the Aves, Dinosaurs and many other, here on this article, we will do justice to top 15 biggest birds in the world.
I don’t expect to see any of the mentioned birds here to be among the fastest birds in the world, though some of them are pretty fast due to how large they stretch and legs when on the ground.
Sighting a huge bird (Aves or avian dinosaurs) flying up the sky would create an amusement within. Sighting some walking could make you ‘Aww.’ Some Aves can’t fly but walk and run, while some can combine the movement on the land and in the air. Either of such bird nature depends on majorly their sizes. Archaeological record despites that the group of dinosaurs, the biggest flying birds in the world, is the last surviving group of birds; thus the termed avian dinosaurs.
The Aves constitute one path of the six basic animal groups, which are invertebrates, amphibians, fish, mammals, and reptiles. Birds generally are endothermic vertebrates, enclosed with feathers roundabout except for their feet and head region. They are reckoned as a beaker – without teeth, possesses lightweight yet sturdy skeletal structure, four-hearted chamber, a higher body metabolism rate, of external reproductory fertilization processes by laying of hard-shelled eggs, unlike the amphibians and reptile classes.
READ ALSO: THE FASTEST DOG BREEDS IN THE WORLD
The sizes and weight of birds vary across its species, which range from as small as 5 cm (2 in) like the hummingbird bee picker which weighs between 1.6 grams to 2 grams, to the length of 2.75 m (9 ft) as found in ostrich, which commands up to 160 kg (344 lbs), below article list of the top 15 largest bird species in the world based on their body weight.
Top 15 largest bird species in the world
Here we have provided you the full details about the largest bird species in the world, stating each birds name, botanical name, the location where they can be found, the birds’ weight and length then elaborating more on their features. Below is the list of the biggest birds in the world;
#15. Dalmatian Pelican
Botanica Name: Pelecanus crispus
Nativity: South-Eastern, Europe, India, and China.
Max Weight: 15 kg (33 lb)
Max Length: 6 feet
The Dalmatian pelican with the botanica name Pelecanus Crispus is part of the top 15 world’s heaviest flying bird species, measuring to a maximum Length 6 feet (183 cm) and weighing up to 15 kg (33.1 lb). The Europe, India, and China nativity bird, where it has grown adult possess a maximum wingspan length of 11 ft 4 inches (345 cm). Facially, there are little differences with the white pelicans, except that the Dalmatian pelicans are much bigger physically.
One unique feature with Dalmatian pelicans is the length of its bill (18 inches), which, according to research, is the second-largest on the planet earth. Dalmatian pelicans are generally carnivorous, feeding majorly on varieties of fishes (eel and cat), and up to 2kg daily.
#14. Andean condor
Botanica Name: Vultur gryphus
Nativity: South American coasts
Max Weight: 15 kg (33 lb)
Max Length: 4.3 ft
The important folklore and mythology birds of the South American people, the Andean condor of Vultur gryphus measure to a maximum weight gain of 15 kg (33 lb), and lesser for its females species, which is contrary to the weight distribution especially with the mammals. The biggest birds of prey in the world are the fifth largest seabird wingspan length, which covers to 10 ft 10 inches (330 cm), after the order of other seabirds and water birds, which helps with such a massive bird to make a flight easily, whereby making them the largest birds in the world that can fly, with an overall body length at peak reaches 4 feet 3 inches (130 cm).
Apart from being so important folklore and mythology, the members of the vulture family doubles as the national symbol and national bird for Bolivia and Chile, not excluding Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Venezuelan, which make them, therefore, be regarded as the Andes states.
Just after its members, the tame and the wild Andrea are carnivorous and cadavers, feeding on the dead carcass of dead coastline fishes, and hunting of bird’s nest for eggs to provide for on.
#13. Trumpeter swan
Botanica Name: Cygnus buccinator
Nativity: North America
Max Weight: 17.2 kg (38 lb)
Max Length: 5.5 ft
Next to the Great bustard concerning weight is the Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) with a weight peak of 17.2 kg (38 lb), which made it the heaviest birds to the native of North American. As the no 13 of the largest bird species in the world, adults Trumpeter swan recorded thus far measured 6 ft in (183 cm) in length and an extremely large wingspan of 10 ft (300 cm).
Trumpeter swan has flagged an endangered species towards the end of the 19th century because of being heavily hunted, thanks to the intervention of the Yellowstone National Park. Their responsibilities were accomplished after the gradual reintroduction of wildlife largest bird species in the world, which stepped up their population to 50,000 in the year 2010.
#12. Great bustard and Kori bustard
Botanica Name: Otis tarda
Nativity: Europe Central, Temperate Asia, and Africa.
Max Weight: 18 kg (40 lb)
Max Length: 3.9 ft
The bustard species is known to be the heaviest living flying bird in the world, with nativity at Europe central down to the southern region, temperate Asia, and Africa continent. The Great bustard (Otis tarda) weight at maximum 18 kg (40 lb), possessing a maximum wingspan length of 8 ft 10 inches (270 cm), 3 ft 9 in (115 cm) maximum length, and 3 ft 5 inches (105 cm) at the height of it. All these distributions are not evenly distributed across both sexes, with the female much smaller.
The African nativity of the bustard species – the Kori bustard, known as Ardeotis kori grows to a maximum length size of 4 ft 11 inches (150 cm), 3 ft 11 inches (120 cm) maximum height, and 9 ft (120 cm) maximum wingspan. The ever-recorded weight of the biggest flying birds in the world stands at 18 kg (40 lb). No even weight distribution of these attribute between their sexes, with their female half the weight of the male bustard
The biggest flying birds in the world feeds mainly on insects and other small amphibians and reptiles like lizard and snakes. Sometimes, the feed on plant seeds and berries. The bustards live most of their life on land, hunting for insects to infest on.
#11. King penguin
Botanica Name: Aptenodytes patagonicus
Nativity: Sub-Antarctic Islands
Max Weight: 18 kg (40 lb)
Max Height: 3 .3 ft
The King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) is the second-largest species of penguin after the Emperor penguin, which are in every way analogous to the biggest flying birds in the world, the Great and Kori bustard. They maintain a height of 3 ft 3 inches (100 cm) at maximum, weighing up to 18 kg (40 lb)—no even weight distribution of these attributes between their sexes, with their female smaller with their weight.
#10. Dwarf cassowary
Botanica Name: Casuarius bennetti
Nativity: New Guinea, New Britain, and Yapen Island
Max Weight: 26 kg (57 lb)
Max Length: 4.92 ft
The smallest species among the three cassowaries breed, the dwarf cassowary (Casuarius bennetti) stretched vertically optimally to 4 ft 9 in (150 cm) and weighs at maximum 26 kg (57 lb)
The Dwarf cassowary also regarded as Bennett’s cassowary or the little cassowary inhabited over the mountain forests of New Guinea, New Britain, and Yapen Island, whose elevation exceed 10,000 ft (3,000 m).
#9. Darwin’s rhea
Botanica Name: Rhea pennata
Nativity: Bolivian Plateau and Patagonia
Max Weight: 28.6 kg (63 lb)
Max Length: 39 in
The lesser rhea sobriquet of Darwin’s rhea with botanical name Rhea pennata weights up to 28.6 kg (63 lb), 39 in (100 cm) vertically and horizontally stretched, inhabited mostly over the Altiplano of the Bolivian Plateau and Patagonia, all in the west-central coast of South America.
#8. Domesticated Turkey
Botanica Name: Meleagris gallopavo
Nativity: central Mesoamerica
Max Weight: 39 kg (86 lb)
Max Length: 4.92 ft
Yes, domesticated turkey! The word turkey is a misidentification of unrelated birds of unrelated species shipped to the European continent through the country of Turkey. As one of the biggest birds in the world, domesticated turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), homegrown over two millennia ago around the central Mesoamerica, weighing 36 kg (86 lb) at close range.
#7. Greater rhea
Botanica Name: Rhea americana
Nativity: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Max Weight: 40 kg (88 lb)
Max Length: 4.5 ft
The flightless and the largest bird in South America landform, the Greater Rhea of botanical name Rhea americana prevalent to the Argentines and the Brazilians, with a body length of and 4.5 ft, and 40 kg (88 lb) at max. As one of the biggest birds in the world with a large wingspan, useless for flight but their weight balancing and easy direction during a flight. Their strong Musco-skeletal structure help gives Greater rhea to a flight up to 56 km/h (35 mph), is profitable for defense and attacking purpose.
READ ALSO: MOST DANGEROUS ANIMALS IN THE WORLD
Greater Rheas are being distributed over grass and wetlands, which lays over 50 eggs in a single nest and feeds on rodents, lizards, and small birds.
#6. Emperor penguin
Botanica Name: Aptenodytes forsteri
Nativity: Antarctica
Max Weight: 45 kg (99 lb)
Max Length: 51 inches
The emperor penguin of the Antarctica Aptenodytes forsteri can reach a maximum height of 130 cm (51 in) and 45 kg (99 lb) in weight. As the tallest and the weightiest penguin species which can travel up to 80 km on land and 1,500 ft down in search of food
As a family, the Male emperor watch after the eggs laid by the female penguins. At this period, the female goes for months in search of food for the rest of the family.
#5. Emu
Botanica Name: Dromaius novaehollandiae
Nativity: Australia
Max Weight: 60 kg (132 lb)
Max Length: 6.2 ft
When it comes to the longest bird in the world, the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) comes seconds, with the ostrich the first in length and weight. Emu stretches up to the height of an average tall man (6.2 ft (1.9 meters)), weighing up to 60 kg (132 lb), with the female smaller anatomically.
As one of the biggest and the largest flightless birds on earth with flight prevailing mostly in the savannah and other forestry parts of Australia, feeding on seeds, rodents, and small animals, whom can splint up to 30 mph (48 km/h). during summer, they paired together and bred in winter, where the female emu laid up to 10 eggs.
#4. Northern cassowary
Botanica Name: Casuarius unappendiculatus
Nativity: Northern New Guinea
Max Weight: 70 kg (154 lb)
Max Length: 6.6 ft
The biggest flightless bird in the world won’t be classified without mentioning the Northern cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus). An interesting fact about the northern New Guinea’s biggest bird this largest bird is that the females are not only brighter in color than their male counterparts. They are also heavier and weightier, making them the first bird to be weightier than their male counterpart.
An average adult northern cassowary spans up to 6.6 ft (2m), splinting up to 50 km/h (21 mph).
#3. Southern cassowary
Botanica Name: Casuarius casuarius
Nativity: Indonesia, New Guinea, and Northeastern Australia.
Max Weight: 83 kg (183 lb)
Max Length: 75 in
The flightless yet biggest bird of the southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius), of the native of the tropical rain forests of Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia. The Southern cassowary weighs up to 83 kg (183 lb) and a maximum height of 190 cm (75 in).
READ ALSO: TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS SPIDERS IN THE WORLD
The sturdy and thick three toe legs of cassowary give it support for flight and speed, making it compete at speed up to 30 mph (54 km/h). The female laid up to 10 eggs while the male incubates those eggs for 50 days.
#2. Somali ostrich
Botanica Name: Struthio molybdophanes
Nativity: north-eastern Ethiopia and Somalia
Max Weight: 130 kg (287 lb)
Max Length: 5.7 ft
The ostrich family is undisputable, the biggest flightless bird in the world. The Somali breed (Struthio molybdophanes) comes a bit lesser to the Struthio camelus breeds. The largest flightless of the African nativity (the particular breed found in Somalia and its neighborhood) weighs up to 130 kg (287 lb) and spans up to 2.1 m (6 ft 11) per length.
Their sturdy, thick, large, and powerful legs give a sprint of about 40 mph (64 km/h).
#1. Ostrich
Botanica Name: Struthio camelus
Nativity: Africa
Max Weight: 156.8 kg (346 lb)
Max Length: 16.4 ft
The biggest living bird on earth known to this generation and survive been in extinct after the order of the dinosaurs is ostrich (Struthio camelus), which is of Africa native, weighing more than the average weight of two human species. Their male weighs up to 156.8 kg (346 lb) and 9.2 ft (280 cm), and it’s female fractionally smaller, yet bigger than the Somali ostrich.
The powerful, sturdy and large legs make ostrich covers up to 5 meters (16.4 ft) in a single leap, and travels up to 70 km/h (43 mph).