Birds are some of nature’s most awe-inspiring creatures, with their immense diversity in size, shape, and habitat. Among them, certain species stand out for their sheer size, from towering flightless giants to majestic flyers with breathtaking wingspans. Let’s take a look at twelve of the biggest birds on earth and how many of them roam in the United States.
1. Common Ostrich
The common ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird species. Native to Africa, these flightless birds can reach heights of up to 9 feet and weigh up to 290 pounds. Their powerful legs allow them to run at speeds up to 43 mph, making them the fastest land birds. They thrive in open habitats such as savannas and semi-arid plains across Africa, but they are not found in the wild in the United States.
2. Southern Cassowary
The southern cassowary is a large flightless bird native to northeastern Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. It can grow up to 5.8 feet tall and weigh up to 175 pounds. Cassowaries have distinctive blue faces, long red wattles, and a large horn-like crest called a casque on their heads. They inhabit tropical rainforests and feed mainly on fallen fruit. Cassowaries are known for being potentially dangerous, with powerful legs and dagger-like claws that can inflict serious injuries. They are not found in the wild in the United States.
3. Emu
The emu is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It can reach up to 5.7 feet in height and weigh up to 132 pounds. Emus have soft brown feathers, long necks and legs, and can sprint at speeds up to 31 mph. They are found across most of mainland Australia in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, grasslands, and savannas. Emus are omnivorous, eating plants, insects, and small animals.
4. Emperor Penguin
The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species, standing up to 4 feet tall and weighing up to 90 pounds. They are found exclusively in Antarctica, where they breed on the sea ice during the harsh winter months. Emperor penguins have a thick layer of blubber and tightly packed feathers to survive extreme cold.
5. Greater Rhea
The greater rhea is the largest bird in South America, reaching heights up to 5.5 feet and weighing up to 70 pounds. Like ostriches, they are flightless birds with long necks and legs adapted for running. Greater rheas inhabit grasslands, pampas, and open woodlands in countries like Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. They are omnivorous, feeding on plants, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates.
6. Wandering Albatross
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, measuring up to 11.5 feet from wingtip to wingtip. They weigh up to 26 pounds and inhabit the Southern Ocean, ranging widely across the seas around Antarctica. Wandering albatrosses are supremely adapted for soaring flight, able to stay aloft for hours without flapping their wings. They feed mainly on squid and fish, covering vast distances as they forage.
7. Dalmatian Pelican
The Dalmatian pelican is the largest member of the pelican family and one of the heaviest flying birds. They can have a wingspan of up to 11.5 feet and weigh up to 33 pounds. Dalmatian pelicans inhabit freshwater lakes and coastal areas from southeastern Europe to India and China. They have distinctive pouches beneath their bills used for catching fish. These pelicans often nest in colonies and are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss and human disturbance.
8. Andean Condor
The Andean condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world, with a wingspan of up to 10.5 feet and a weight of up to 33 pounds. It inhabits much of the Andes Mountain range along the Pacific coast region of Western South America. Andean condors are scavengers, feeding mainly on carrion.
9. California Condor
The California condor is the largest land bird in North America, with a wingspan of up to 9.8 feet and weighing up to 26 pounds. Once extinct in the wild, they have been reintroduced to parts of California, Arizona, and Baja California. California condors are scavengers that feed primarily on large mammal carcasses.
10. Trumpeter Swan
The trumpeter swan is the largest native waterfowl species in North America, with a wingspan up to 8 feet and weighing up to 30 pounds. They inhabit lakes, ponds, and large rivers across parts of North America, breeding in Canada and Alaska and wintering further south. Trumpeter swans feed on aquatic plants and sometimes agricultural crops.
11. Whooping Crane
The whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America, standing up to 5 feet tall with a wingspan of 7.5 feet. They weigh up to 17 pounds. Whooping cranes breed in the wetlands of Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada and winter on the Texas coast. They are omnivorous, feeding on plants, invertebrates, and small animals.
12. Marabou Stork
The marabou stork is a large wading bird native to sub-Saharan Africa. It can stand up to 5 feet tall with a wingspan of up to 12 feet. Marabou storks have bare heads and necks, large bills, and a distinctive pink gular sac at the throat. They are scavengers, feeding on carrion and waste, and often gather in large numbers at garbage dumps.
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