These birds have changed over the years to have short wings, useless, unable to fly, birds like Ostrich or Emu or Rhea.
Around the world, flying birds often fly in the sky and sea: vultures, bustards, swans and others.
These birds are heavy, between 22-44 pounds.
Despite their weight and constant gravity, these heavy birds find ways to fly.
These are the 11 heaviest flying birds in the world!
1. Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
Part: Bustard Family (related to Cranes and Rails) Weight: 18-44 pounds/8-20 kilograms Wingspan: Males 7-8 feet/210-250 centimeters Found: Europe and Central Asia
The Great Bustard of Europe and Central Asia takes the 1st place as the heaviest flying bird in the world.
Weighing a whopping 44 lbs, these birds are of interest to ornithologists who have discovered that the Great Bustard can migrate over 2,000 miles.
The Great Bustard can be found in areas such as grasslands or steppes.
During spawning, the male Great Bustard boasts a more vivid color and longer feathers near its beak, giving the impression of a beard or moustache!
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Part: Bustard Family (related to Cranes and Rails) Weight: 24-42 pounds/11-19 kilograms Wingspan: Males 7.5-9 feet/230-275 centimeters Found in: East and South Africa
Africa is home to the world’s largest flightless bird species—the ostrich.
But it may be home to the largest flying bird—the Kori Bustard!
Although most credit the Great Bustard of Europe and Central Asia for being the largest flying bird, the size of the Kori Bustard is almost comparable to its distant Eurasian counterpart.
The Kori Bustard lives in the African grasslands and savannah, eating plants, berries, snakes and lizards.
Also read: 12 Easy Tips to Attract Birds to Your Birdbath
3. Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
Part: Bustard Family (related to Cranes and Rails) Weight: 13-40 pounds/6-18 kilograms Wingspan: Males 7-8 feet/210-250 centimeters Availability: little in the Indian subcontinent
The Great Indian Bustard is the third flying bird alive today.
Like its distant relatives, the Great India Bustard makes its home among the grasslands of India, eating an omnivore diet befitting a bird of its size.
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Category: Small aquatic family 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
Trumpeters are migratory birds that summer in Alaska and Western Canada and winter in the southern continental U.S. These ornate, snow-white birds form strong bonds with their mates and will often remain faithful until one of the partners dies.
The Trumpeter Swan is the largest water bird in North America.
The Trumpeter Swan needs to run first; at the same time it flaps its wings and paddles its feet on the water, gaining enough speed to ensure that it takes off.
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5. Mute Swan (Cygnas olor)
Category: Small aquatic family Anatidae (related to ducks and 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 (America North, Europe, Asia )
Mute Swans can be found in North America, however this regal white bird is not native to America.
The Mute Swan is native to Europe and Asia.
The male mute swan is unique in that during calving the black lump on its beak becomes larger, making it one of the easiest ways to distinguish between gender
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6. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Part of: Small Waterfowl Family Anatidae (related 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, Central & Northern Asia.
The Whooper Swan is another Eurasian bird, highly migratory between its summer and winter habitats.
Some Whooper Swans have even made a home in North America, but only on the West Coast.
These birds established themselves in America by flying a short distance across the Bering Sea.
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7. Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)
Category: Family Cathartidae (New World Vultures) Weight: Up to 30 pounds/Up to 13.6 kilograms Wingspan: 10 feet/305 centimeters Found: South America, mainly in the Andes Mountains
The Andean Condor lives high in the Andes Mountains.
Another reason why these birds like high rocks is that it is easy for their large wings to catch the warm air that rises, which enables the bird to fly with little effort.
The Andean Condor may not have the widest wingspan but its wings have a higher surface area.
Category: Family Pelecaniformes, medium to large seabirds Weight: 23.5-29 pounds/10.5-13 kilograms Wingspan: 10.1-11.3 feet/310-345 centimeters Available in: Europe & Asia
The Dalmatian Pelican is the largest pelican in the Pelecaniformes family.
These birds have enormous wingspans of up to 11 meters.
These birds usually work in groups, drifting along the surface of the water before dropping their heads below the surface to grab fish.
9. Cinereous Vulture or Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
Category: Old World Vulture Weight: 15- 27.5 pounds/7-12.5 kilograms Wingspan: 8-10 feet/250-295 centimeters Found in: Europe & Asia
The Cinereous Vulture is the second largest bird of prey, after the Andean Condor.
These viruses can be found in Europe and Asia.
Category: Old World Vulture Weight: 18-26 pounds/8-12 kilograms Wingspan: 9-10 feet/270-300cm Found: only within Central Asia, mainly the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau
The Himalayan vulture is an expert at flying at high altitudes.
This bird is often seen flying 5,000 meters above sea level in the high mountains where there are the highest peaks in the world.
These large birds use their large wings and pockets of warm air to fly with little effort.
Category: Family Diomedeidae, large seabirds Weight: Up to 22/10 kilograms Wingspan: Males 8.2-11.8 feet/250-360 centimeters Found: throughout the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth
The Wandering Albatross is a very unique bird.
Breeding pairs usually mate for life but raise only one chick each year.
This amazing bird is the last one on our list, coming in at 22 pounds.
The really impressive thing about this bird is its wings.
The Wandering Albatross has an enormous wingspan of 11 to 12 feet, which enables it to glide effortlessly for hours!