These birds have typically evolved over the years to have short, useless wings that cannot sustain flight, birds like the ostrich, emu or rhea.
Around the world, large flying birds often fly across the sky and seas: vultures, bustards, swans and many others.
These birds are heavy, weighing between 22 and 44 pounds.
Despite their weight and constant gravity, these heavy birds find ways to escape.
Here are the 11 heaviest flying birds in the world!
1. Bustard (Otis tarda)
Belongs to: The bustard family (related to cranes and rails) Weight: 18-44 pounds / 8-20 kilograms Wingspan: males 7-8 feet / 210-250 centimeters Found in: Europe and throughout Central Asia
The bustard of Europe and Central Asia ranks 1st as the heaviest flying bird in the world.
With a maximum weight of 44 pounds, these birds impress ornithologists who have discovered that the great bustard is capable of migrating more than 2,000 miles.
Great bustard can be found in habitats such as meadows and steppes.
During the mating season, the male bustard boasts more vivid coloration and thin, long feathers near the beak, suggesting a mustache or moustache!
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Belongs to: Family of great bustards (related to cranes and rails) Weight: 24-42 pounds / 11-19 kilograms Wingspan: males 7.5-9 feet / 230-275 centimeters Native to: East and South Africa
Africa is home to the world’s largest non-flying bird, the ostrich.
But it can also be home to the largest species of flying bird – the bustard kori!
Although most consider the European and Central Asian bustard to be the largest flying bird, the size of the kori bustard is quite comparable to its distant Eurasian relative.
The kori bustard lives in African grasslands and savannas, feeding on plants, berries, snakes and lizards.
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3. Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
Belongs to: the bustard family (related to cranes and rails) Weight: 13-40 pounds / 6-18 kilograms Wingspan: males 7-8 feet / 210-250 centimeters Found: sparingly in the Indian subcontinent
The Indian bustard is the third largest flying bird alive today.
Like its distant relatives, the great bustard inhabits the grasslands of the Indian subcontinent, eating an omnivorous diet appropriate for a bird of its size.
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Part: Waterfowl Subfamily Anatidae (related to ducks and geese) Weight: 21-38 pounds/9.5-17 kilograms Wingspan: Males 6.6 feet/203 centimeters Found in: North America
Trumpeter swans are large migratory waterfowl that summer in Alaska and western Canada and winter further south in the continental United States. These elegant, snow-white birds form strong bonds with their mates and often remain loyal until one of them dies.
The trumpeter swan is the largest waterfowl in North America.
Trumpeter Swan requires a run-up; simultaneously flapping its wings and paddling its feet across the surface of the water to gain enough speed to ensure takeoff.
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5. Mute Swan (Cygnas olor)
Part: Waterfowl Subfamily Ducks (related to ducks and geese) Weight: 22-31.5 lbs/10-14.3 kilograms Wingspan: Males 6.8-7.8 feet/207-237 centimeters Distributed: Throughout the hemisphere northern (North America, Europe, Asia)
Mute swans can be found in North America, however, this royal white bird is not native to the Americas.
The mute swan’s natural range is in Europe and Asia.
The male mute swan is unique in that during the mating season, the black bump on the tip of its beak enlarges, making it one of the easiest ways to tell the sexes apart.
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6. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Part: Waterfowl Subfamily Anatidae (relative to ducks and geese) Weight: 16.3-30.8 pounds/7.4-14 kilograms Wingspan: 6.6-9 feet/200-275 centimeters Found in: Europe, Asia Central and Northern.
The whooper swan is another Eurasian bird that migrates extensively between its summer and winter homes.
Some whooper swans have even established themselves in North America, but only on the west coast.
These birds settled in America, flying over the Bering Sea.
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7. Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
Belongs to: Family Cathartidae (New World vultures) Weight: Up to 30 pounds/13.6 kilograms Wingspan: 10 feet/305 centimeters Native to: South America, especially the Andes
The Andean condor lives high in the Andes.
One of the reasons these birds prefer high cliffs is that their large wings are easier to catch warm, rising air, allowing the bird to fly with minimal effort.
The Andean condor may not have the largest wingspan, but its wings have the largest surface area.
Belongs to: Family Pelecaniformes, medium to large seabirds Weight: 23.5-29 pounds/10.5-13 kilograms Wingspan: 10.1-11.3 feet/310-345 centimeters Native to: Europe and Asia
The Dalmatian pelican is the largest pelican of the pelican family.
These birds have a huge wingspan that can reach 11 feet.
Often these birds work in groups, floating freely on the surface of the water before dipping their heads below the surface to scoop up fish.
9. Vulture or Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
Part: Old World Vulture Weight: 15-27.5 pounds/7-12.5 kilograms Wingspan: 8-10 feet/250-295 centimeters Found in: Europe and Asia
The Cinereous Vulture is the second largest bird of prey after the Andean condor.
These vultures can be found in Europe and Asia.
Portion: Old World Vulture Weight: 18-26 lbs/8-12 kilograms Wingspan: 9-10 ft/270-300 cm Found: Central Asia only, especially the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau
The Himalayan vulture is a master of flying at high altitudes.
This bird is often seen soaring 5,000 meters above sea level among the high mountains that contain the world’s highest peaks.
These large birds use their massive wings and pockets of warm air to glide with minimal effort.
They belong to: the Diomedeidae family, which consists of large seabirds. Weight: up to 22 pounds/10 kilograms. Wingspan: Males: 250-360 centimeters. Occurs: in all oceans in the southern hemisphere.
The wandering albatross is a rather unusual bird.
Breeding pairs usually mate for life, but only raise one chick every two years.
This amazing bird is last on our list, weighing in at 22 pounds.
The real impressive feature of this bird is its wingspan.
The Wandering Albatross has a huge wingspan of 11-12 feet, which helps it glide effortlessly for hours!