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It is quite well-known that the biggest bird in the world is the Common Ostrich.
But did you know that there are many other large birds that are worth exploring?
From flightless birds like emus to soaring birds of prey like vultures, the avian world is full of impressive giants. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the biggest birds on Earth, their unique characteristics, and the habitats they call home.
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Ostriches, Emus, Rheas – Family Ratite
Ratites are a group of birds characterized by their large size, long necks, and legs, and their inability to fly. The only exceptions are kiwis, much smaller and shorter of these species.
Common Ostrich
(Struthio camelus)
Common Ostrich – 8 feet © Ronnie Macdonald
- Average size: 5 ft 9 in – 9 ft (1.75-2.75 m)
- Average weight: 200-290 pounds (90-120 kg)
The Common Ostrich, the largest living bird, is a flightless species limited to drier and sandy regions in central and southern Africa. They’re easily identifiable by their long neck and legs. Adult males have mostly black feathers with white primaries and a white tail. On the other hand, females and young males are grayish-brown and white.
When threatened, they have two options; either hide by lying flat against the ground or run away.
They are impressive runners, capable of running for a long time at a speed of 34 mph. If needed, they can run faster in short bursts of speed up to 40 mph, making them the fastest birds on land. If cornered, they can defend themselves with a powerful kick from their legs
Emu
(Dromaius novaehollandiae)
Emu – 5-6 feet © Dirklaudio
- Average size: 4 ft 7 in – 6 ft 3 in (1.4-1.9 m)
- Average weight: 40-132 pounds (18-60 kg)
The Emu, the second-tallest living bird species, is exclusively found in mainland Australia and inhabits nearly the entire continent, except for heavily wooded areas and desert regions. These brown, flightless birds with long necks and legs are soft-feathered and have a shaggy plumage of dark brown feathers.
Their plumage can vary based on the environment, often reflecting the general color of their surroundings.
While generally solitary birds, Emus exhibit social behaviors whenever advantageous. They are capable of traveling great distances and can sprint at 30 mph when necessary. Their diet includes plants and insects. When needed, they can go for weeks without eating and also drink infrequently, but when they find food and water, they gulp down as much as they can.
Greater Rhea
(Rhea americana)
- Average size: 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m)
- Average weight: 44-60 pounds (20-27 kg)
The Greater Rhea is another flightless bird species that is native to a variety of open areas in southeastern South America. It is the largest bird species in the Americas. They have long protruding necks and fluffy tattered-looking plumage in shades of gray or brown. The head, neck, rump, and thighs are feathered, and males are generally darker than females.
During the non-breeding season, the Greater Rhea forms flocks of 10 to 100 birds and typically remains silent. The flocks disband at the beginning of the breeding season and the birds start producing low booming noises. If chased, they have a unique fleeing behavior, characterized by a zigzag pattern where they alternately raise one wing and then the other.
Regardless of their rather large geographic range, this species is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List due to a rapidly declining population caused by hunting and habitat conversion.
Ducks, Geese and Swans – Family Anatidae
Waterfowl in the Anatidae family, such as ducks, geese, and swans, have evolved to swim, float, and dive. They are often monogamous, migratory, and herbivorous. The family consists of 174 species in 43 genera which are widespread across all continents except Antarctica.
Trumpeter Swan
(Cygnus buccinator)
Trumpeter Swan – 5 feet
- Average size: 4ft 6 in – 5 ft 5 in (1.4-1.65 m)
- Average weight: 15-30 pounds (7-13.6 kg)
Trumpeter Swans look regal with their entirely white plumage and black bills and legs. They range throughout parts of Alaska, Canada, and the northwestern United States. You can find them in wetlands with open water and areas near rivers or streams. They live in small flocks, often consisting of family members, and have an interesting approach to incubation – they warm their eggs with their webbed feet.
They are the largest native North American waterfowl. Despite their great size, they usually still appear regal and graceful – unless they’re trying to take flight. They need a 100-yard-long runway for their rather clumsy take-off.
These swans forage underwater by up-ending themselves.
Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys – Family Phasianidae
The Phasianidae family consists of heavy ground-living birds such as partridges, junglefowl, chickens, pheasants, turkeys, peafowl, and Old World quail. Many of the 185 species are popular game birds.
Wild Turkey
(Meleagris gallopavo)
Wild Turkey – 3 feet
- Average size: 2.5-4 feet (76-125 cm)
- Average weight: 5.5-24 pounds (2.5-11 kg)
Wild Turkeys are widely distributed in the eastern and parts of the western United States. They prefer open hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests. These plump birds have dark, bronze-green iridescent plumage with dark, white-barred wings and broad tails tipped with rufous or white.
Turkeys search for food in flocks on the ground and use their strong feet to scratch leaf litter. In early spring, males perform courtship displays by puffing up their feathers and giving a gobbling call. They move around by walking, running, and flying, and at night they roost in trees. Turkeys can also swim by spreading their tails, tucking their wings, and kicking.
Pelicans – Family Pelecanidae
Pelecanidae contains only one living genus consisting of 8 living pelicans. These waterbirds are characterized by predominantly white plumage, long bills, and a large throat pouch.
American White Pelican
(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
American White Pelican – 5 feet
- Average size: 4-6 feet (1.3-1.8 m)
- Average weight: 11-20 pounds (5-9 kg)
American White Pelicans are one of the longest birds native to North America. They winter in coastal and southern areas and migrate to the inland islands, wetlands, and other shallow bodies of water of the United States and Canada for the breeding season.
As their name indicates, they are almost entirely white except for the black primaries and secondaries. They have a long yellow bill with a large throat sac. During breeding season, both males and females develop a flattened protuberance on their upper bills.
These large, gregarious birds travel and forage in flocks, coordinating their swimming to drive schooling fish toward the shallows for easy scooping with their huge, flat-topped bills. On the ground, they have an awkward rolling walk, but in the air, they soar gracefully on broad, stable wings.
Herons, Egrets and Bitterns – Family Ardeidae
The Ardeidae family includes 72 carnivorous bird species that are often found near freshwater or coastal areas, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, or the sea, and are known for their long necks and legs. These medium- to large-sized birds usually stand motionless or wade slowly through shallow water while searching for prey.
Great Blue Heron
(Ardea herodias)
Great Blue Heron – 4 feet.
- Average size: 3-4.5 feet (91-137 cm)
- Average weight: 4-8 pounds (1.8-3.6 kg)
Great Blue Herons range throughout North and Central America and inhabit both fresh- and saltwater environments, grasslands, and agricultural fields, but typically reside in isolated swamps or near lakes and ponds surrounded by forests. You can easily recognize them by their long necks, blue-gray plumage, thick dagger-like bills, bi-colored wings, and black eye stripe that extends into head plumes.
Great Blue Herons use their patience and stealth to hunt for prey in shallow waters. They wade slowly or stand still and with a lightning-fast thrust of their long neck and sharp bill, they strike their prey with precision. As they hunt and feed, their feathers can become covered in fish slime and oils from their surroundings.
To protect their plumage, Great Blue Heron’s chest has specialized feathers that continually grow and fray. They use their fringed middle toes to comb this “powder down” and apply it to their underparts, which removes the slime and oils and protects their feathers against further contamination.
New World Vultures – Family Cathartidae
There are seven living species in the New World vulture, also known as the condor family. They’re found in temperate and warm areas in the Americas. Vultures are scavengers and mainly feed on dead animals without suffering any apparent harm.
California Condor
(Gymnogyps californianus)
California Condor – 4 feet.
- Average size: 3.5-4.5 feet (109-140 cm)
- Average weight: 15-31 pounds (7-14 kg)
Listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and once extinct in the wild until reintroduced, the California Condor is the largest North American bird. They inhabit the southern central California deserts and nest in rocky cliffs. These condors can live exceptionally long, up to 50 or more years old.
Adults have black plumage with striking white patches under the wings and yellowish-orange naked heads. These masterful soarers rarely flap their wings while spending hours searching for carrion to feast on. They are social, form groups around different favorable feeding and roosting spots.
In 1987, only 22 California Condors had survived and were then captured. They were bred in captivity and then slowly reintroduced into the wild in 1991. The California condor conservation project is believed to be one of the most expensive species conservation projects in US history, with a cost exceeding $35 million.
Cranes – Family Gruidae
Cranes are a group of long-legged and long-necked birds that are found on most continents, excluding Antarctica and South America. They inhabit various types of wetlands, and the coloration of their plumage varies depending on their habitat.
Whooping Crane – 4.5 feet
(Grus americana)
Whooping Crane – 4.5 feet.
- Average size: 4-5 feet (1.25-1.6 m)
- Average weight: 10-19 pounds (4.5-8.5 kg)
The Whooping Crane is an endangered crane species known for its distinctive whooping sound that carries as far as 5 miles. Adults are white with a red crown and a long, dark, pointed bill. Despite their gradual recovery, whooping cranes remain the rarest cranes in the world, with all living individuals today being descendants of the Canada-Texas flock.
They primarily inhabit marshy areas, shallow and grassy wetlands, mudflats, and wet prairies, and prefer nesting in marshes on a raised area surrounded by water and camouflaging vegetation. Whooping Cranes tend to move slowly as they forage for food.
They typically browse and probe for their meals rather than engaging in the patient and stealthy hunting behavior exhibited by herons. When it comes to socializing, whooping cranes tend to flock in smaller groups.
Sandhill Crane – 3.5 feet
(Grus canadensis)
Sandhill Crane – 49 in.
- Average size: 2 ft 7 in – 4 ft 6 in (80-136 cm)
- Average weight: 6-15 pounds (2.7-6.7 kg)
Sandhill Cranes are prominent birds that can be found all over North America, recognized by their long neck, long legs, and broad wings. Their slate grey feathers are often tinged with a rusty wash on the upperparts. Adult birds have pale cheeks and red skin on their crown.
During migration and on their wintering grounds, they form massive flocks that can number in the tens of thousands, often soaring high in the sky. Breeding and foraging typically occur in open prairies, grasslands, and wetlands. Outside of the breeding season, they prefer to roost in the deeper water of ponds or lakes, where they are relatively safe from predators.
Surprisingly, Sandhill Crane chicks can leave the nest within 8 hours of hatching and are even capable of swimming.
FAQ
What is the largest bird?
The largest and heaviest living bird in the world is the Common Ostrich.
What is the biggest flying bird?
The biggest flying bird in the world is the Andean Condor.
What is the largest bird in Europe?
The largest birds in Europe are the Common Crane and the Cinereous Vulture.