With nearly 10,000 bird species, which are the largest flying bird in the world?
Do we judge them by size, weight, or their ability to block out the sun during descent?
This article highlights the biggest flying birds;
by wingspan, both approximate and confirmed weights, while avoiding repetitive listings of closely related species like vultures, pelicans, and albatrosses.
Here are the 6 largest flying birds in the world:
1. Wandering Albatross (Wingspan: 3.2 m / 10.5 ft.)
This creature weighs 12 kg (26.4 lb) and faces little competition in its category.
Among albatross species, the Wandering Albatross stands out with a consistently measured wingspan of 3.2 meters, possibly even reaching 3.5 meters.
According to the Guinness Book of Records;
The Wandering Albatross holds the record for the largest wingspan among all living bird species, measuring 3.63 meters (11 ft 11) in 1965.
When scientists aboard the Antarctic research vessel USNS Eltanin in the Tasman Sea made the measurement, although verification remains a challenge.
These birds are remarkable long-distance travelers, covering over 120,000 km (75,000 miles) in a single year and occasionally flying 900 km or more in a day.
Their extraordinary achievement is possible by their exceptionally long wings, surpassing those of any other creature, and their infrequent landings.
In fact, they only touch down for feeding and breeding, spending the vast majority of their lives in flight.
2. Cinereous Vulture (Wingspan: 3 m / 9.8 ft)
Weighing in at 13 kg (28.6 lb), this creature faces tough competition in its category.
The Himalayan vulture shares a nearly identical wingspan, making it a challenge to determine the leader.
Nevertheless, the cinerous vulture claims an advantage with its greater weight and an undeniably cool name.
Belonging to the bird of prey family, the cinerous vulture holds the distinction of being the largest Old World vulture.
Its habitat spans from Spain across Europe, the Middle East, and into Asia. Some individuals of this species can live impressively long lives, nearing 40 years.
Although they’ve encountered issues like poisoning and near-extinction in Western Europe, reintroduction efforts have made strides in revitalizing their populations.
While their primary diet consists of carrion, concerns have arisen among certain farmers regarding these birds preying on young pigs and cattle from domesticated herds, aided by their formidable size.
3. Andean Condor (Wingspan: 3 m / 9.8 ft)
This bird weighs 16 kg (13.2 lb), and, on the whole, it surpasses most other flying animals in terms of average weight and wingspan, making it the largest flying creature, generally speaking.
Although male bustards frequently exceed them in weight, and exceptionally long-winged specimens of certain other birds can outdo the condor in wingspan.
These birds hold the title of the largest flying creatures.
They possess an enormous wing area that allows them to remain aloft for hours without the need to flap their wings even once.
This results in significant energy savings for a bird of this size!
The Andean condor claims the title of the largest flying bird in the world when considering both weight and wingspan measurements together.
4. Marabou Stork (Wingspan: 2.9 m / 9.5 ft)
Weighing in at 9 kg (20 lb), these colossal birds, though similar in height to the secretary bird, possess superior flight capabilities.
They scavenge through trash heaps in East Africa and cast imposing shadows as they approach.
There have been claims that the Marabou stork boasts wingspans exceeding 3 meters.
Some suggest it shares the title of the largest wingspan among flying animals with the American Condor.
Nonetheless, the Marabou stork undeniably ranks among the largest birds.
While they may not have the grace of the condor, their bald heads and peculiar testicle-like appendages hanging beneath their necks give them a unique, somewhat unattractive charm.
Standing at a height of 1.2 m and sporting a wingspan of 2.9 m, Marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) qualify as one of the largest flying bird in the world.
5. Trumpeter Swan (Wingspan: 2.4 m / 7.9 ft)
Weighing in at 15 kg (33 lb), the Trumpeter swan claims the title of the largest waterfowl and surpasses most others on this list in terms of weight.
These swans are widespread in North America, and they tend to be larger and more vocal than their European counterparts.
Although some European populations were hunted for their meat and feathers, they managed to survive.
The sheer size of these birds deters most potential threats, and they generally coexist peacefully with few natural predators.
The young ones bulk up on a diet rich in protein from insects, while the adults primarily follow a vegetarian diet.
They live for more than 30 years.
6. Steller’s Sea Eagle (Wingspan: 2.3 m+ / 7.5 ft)
With a weight of 10 kg (22 lb). Eagles hold a special place in people’s hearts, and throughout history, many nations have adopted them as symbols of their own pride.
Eagles, being truly captivating creatures, naturally spark a quest to identify the largest among them.
This has ignited a spirited competition among contenders, including;
- Russia’s Steller’s Sea Eagle,
- Central and South America’s Harpy Eagle,
- Philippine Eagle and,
- United States’ beloved Bald and Golden Eagles (Britain’s robin didn’t make it to the finals).
Each contender lays claim to wingspans exceeding 2.4 meters (8 feet), but verifying these claims is a challenge.
Nevertheless, we’ve bestowed the title upon the Steller’s Sea Eagle, widely acknowledged as the heaviest eagle in the world, adding to its credibility.
