What is the Largest Living Bird in the World
There are approximately 10,000 living species of birds on the planet. Most birds are relatively small and lightweight and most species weigh less than 1 kg (2.2 lbs). This is partly due to the fact that these characteristics make it easier for birds to fly. However, not all birds fly and this means that the largest birds are capable of reaching a very large height and weight. Let’s find out which bird is that largest living bird in the world.
What is the largest bird in the world?
The largest living bird is the flightless ostrich, which are found in certain parts of Africa. They are capable of weighing up to a massive 156.8 kg (346 lbs) and reaching 2.8 m (9ft 2 in) in height. However, the average weight of an ostrich is 104 kg (230 lbs) and the average height is 2.1m (6ft 11 in). Ostriches are incapable of flight, but they are able to run at speeds over 70 km/h (43 mph) and cover up to 5 m (16 ft) in one stride! Even though they are unable to fly they still have wings and their wing span can reach 2 m (6.6 ft)
The largest bird capable of flight is the Dalmatian Pelican, which is also the 10th largest bird in the world. This bird is found in parts of Europe and Asia. The Dalmatian Pelican is capable of reaching a weight of 15 kg (33 lbs) and 183 cm (6ft) in length. The wingspan of a this bird can reach an impressive 351 cm (11 ft 6 in). These features make it the largest living animal that is capable of flight! The Dalmatian Pelican also has the second longest bill of any bird, which can reach 45 cm (18 in) long.
Did you know?
The smallest bird is the Bee Hummingbird with a length of 5 cm (2in) and weight of 1.5-2 g (0.053 – 0.071 oz).
Related Articles