10 of the Largest Birds in the World

Coming across a bird with a wingspan that’s taller than a human might scare a few people, but it’s an amazing and wonderful experience.

Below are the top 10 biggest birds in the world. 

10. Golden Eagle

 

This eagle’s wingspan can reach around 8.2 feet. They’re known to be powerful and majestic hunters found in the Northern Hemisphere, they’re also one of the biggest eagles on earth. Although these birds are strong enough to finish off a deer, they often hunt smaller mammals like prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and rabbits.

9. Grey Crowned Crane

With a wingspan that reaches 8.2 feet or 2.5 meters, these elegant birds are commonly seen in the African dry savannas. One of the remarkable behaviors that these birds show is their elaborate courtship which involves jumping, bowing and dancing.

8. California Condor

 

This condor is one of the rarest birds. Constant threats on their lives have caused them to be tagged as critically endangered. Although there is a steady and slow increase in their population thanks to captive breeding, they still face a number of problems.

7. Griffon Vulture 

This massive vulture has a wingspan that can reach 9.2 feet or 2.8 meters. Although they’re commonly seen hunting alone, they occasionally hunt in groups. They’re commonly seen in the mountainous areas in Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe. They build their nest in cliffs so these birds are definitely not afraid of heights.

6. Bearded Vulture 

Also called the Lammergeier vulture, its wingspan can reach 9.8 feet or 2.99 meters. What makes these vultures different from other vultures is that they don’t have that bald head. When on flight, they can reach a remarkable elevation of 24,000 feet.

5. Whooper Swan 

Although these birds are large, they’re very elegant. They can be seen in eastern Asia and northern Europe and fly miles away just to breed in Eurasia. Even though they weigh 18-44 pounds or 8-20 kilograms, they can fly for hours without actually landing to rest. Their massive wingspans can reach 9.8 feet or 3 meters.

4. Andean Condor 

Commonly seen in the mountains of Andean in South America, these large birds feed on carrions but are also known to hunt smaller animals. They can live up to 60 years old and have wingspans that can reach 11 feet or 3.4 meters.

3. Marabou Stork 

Also called “undertaker birds”, they’re scavengers who are seen in the hot African plains, it’s common to see these birds alongside vultures feeding on carrions. They live in both dry and wet areas in the southern Sahara. They have wingspans that reach at least 3.4 meter or 11 feet.

2. Great White Pelican 

These pelicans are seen in the eastern Mediterranean and areas in South Africa. They adapted aquatic life, using their webbed feet to fish and feed. A huge colony of these birds can be seen in Tanzania, consisting of around 75,000 individuals.

1. Wandering Albatross

With a wingspan that can reach 11.8 feet or 3.6 meters, these albatrosses spend most of their lives in sea. They only come to land during mating season in the Macquarie Island, South Georgia Island, Kerguelen Islands, Crozet Islands, and Prince Edward Islands.