In the modern world, there are about 10,600 species of birds. They are: floating, flying, running, land. All are different in their weight, wing span, and height. There is no place left on our planet where there would be no birds.
In this article, we will talk about the largest flying birds in the world. And also find out their weight, body length and wingspan and where they live.
10. Steller's sea eagle
Weight: 7 kg
Steller's sea eagle - one of the largest birds on Earth. This is a bird of prey and it is considered the smartest on the planet. The genus of the eagles of the hawk family includes eight species. The most famous are: Steller's shoulders, bald-headed and white-tailed eagle.
The weight of the Steller's sea eagle is from seven to nine kilograms, which made it the largest of its kind. Due to the considerable weight, he limited his time in flight. On average, it flies 25 minutes. The wingspan during flight is 2-2.5 meters.
This bird has a varied menu, as it lives by the sea. He eats: salmon, newborn squirrel seals, or other delicacies in the form of rodents. By life expectancy, Steller's sea eagles live around 18-23 years. The record was set by a bird who lived in the reserve under constant supervision, he lived for 54 years.
9. Golden eagle
Weight: 7 kg
Golden Eagle - bird of prey, one of the ten largest birds on the planet. Like the Steller's sea eagle, it belongs to the hawk family. Interestingly, the female is much larger than the male and her weight reaches 7 kilograms. What not to say about the male, its weight is 3-5 kilograms.
A feature of this bird is a large hook-shaped nose with a bent end down and more elongated feathers on the neck. The wings of a golden eagle are long about 180-250 cm, wide and have incredible strength.
This bird is located in Europe, Africa, Asia and America. Since the golden eagle is a predatory bird, it preys mainly on small animals: rodents, hares, squirrels, martens, hedgehogs, ground squirrels, kharkov and other small game. They can also eat larger animals, for example, calves, sheep.
By life span, the bird lives long from 45 to 67 years, there were examples when the golden eagle lived longer.
8. Crowned Eagle
Weight: 3-7 kg.
This bird living in Africa is also a predator. Crowned Eagle became the most dangerous among his fellow tribesmen. He is distinguished by strength, dexterity and cruelty. Crowned eagle is considered one of the most beautiful and graceful. Its weight is from 3 to 7 kilograms. As we have already figured out, this is the average weight of eagles. The bird is so fast that its prey does not have time to run away.
Crowned eagle eats prey sometimes and 5 times its size, like an antelope, large monkeys, damans. He eats exclusively in his nest.
The bird is quite large, powerful, its wings are long and strong, its span reaches two meters. A feature of this bird was a crown of feathers on its head. When the eagle is in danger or irritable, the crown rises and fluffs, which gives the eagle a malicious look.
7. Japanese crane
Weight: 8 kg
A symbol of love, family happiness in many countries japanese cranes. They got such associations thanks to their strong love, they remain faithful to the end of their days. Also for many, he is the personification of purity, tranquility and prosperity.
Everyone knows Japanese history with a thousand paper cranes, according to legend, when you make them, your most cherished desire will be fulfilled. The habitat of these cranes is mainly Japan and the Far East.
The bird has become one of the largest, its weight is 8 kilograms. The plumage is mainly white, the neck is black with a longitudinal white stripe. The wingspan of a crane is 150-240 centimeters.
Cranes feed on swampy areas, where they find food in the form of frogs, lizards, a small fish and various insects. The lifespan of this bird is different. In its natural habitat, it totals several decades, but in captivity they can live up to 80 years.
6. Royal Albatross
Weight: 8 kg
Truly a majestic bird, which for a reason has such a name. Also albatross became the largest bird, it weighs about 8 kilograms.
His body is large, dense, his head is small compared to his body. The wings are pointed in shape, they are quite large, strong and muscular. The wingspan is 280-330 centimeters.
They nest in the area of the islands of Campbell, Chatham and Auckland. Life expectancy in these birds is 58 years. Albatrosses feed mainly on seafood: fish, crustaceans, shellfish and shrimp.
While walking, the albatrosses stumble all the time for which they are considered clumsy and stupid, although in reality this is not so.
5. Bustard
Weight: 8 kg
Bustard called up to one of the heaviest flying birds. Their weight is amazing, the male grows to the size of a turkey and weighs from 8 to 16 kilograms. The female weighs half as much from 4 to 8 kilograms. The bustard became distinguished not only by its large dimensions, but also by its variegated coloring and fledgling legs.
The bustard plumage is very beautiful. It consists of red, black, with an admixture of white and ash gray. Interestingly, their color does not depend on the time of year, but the females always repeat after males.
The wingspan is 1.9-2.6 meters. Due to its heavy weight, the bustard takes off with weight, but flies quickly and confidently, craning its neck and legs. The habitat is scattered throughout the Eurasian continent.
The bird has a fairly diverse diet. She can consume both animals and plants. From the plant kingdom, the bustard likes: dandelions, clover, goat-breeder, garden cabbage. The bustard cannot boast a long life span; the maximum bustard can live 28 years.
4. Trumpeter Swan
Weight: 8-14 kg.
This swan species is the largest among swans. Its weight is from 8 to 14 kilograms. Its color is no different from other swans, but it can be recognized by its black beak.
Trumpeter swan located in swamps in the taiga. We know that a swan spends most of its life in water. He takes off with difficulty and then he needs to first scatter. The wingspan is 210 centimeters.
The power of the trumpeter swan is no different from the others. It also feeds on plant foods. He prefers more: green stems of various aquatic plants, for example, lilies, algae. It can also eat insects, mollusks, larvae and small fish.
To get food, he lowers only his head into the water. Due to its long neck, the swan can get food from the depths. Their average life expectancy is 20 years.
3. Snow Vulture
Weight: 11 kg
This bird is also called Himalayan vulture. They are among the largest and most ravenous birds. The weight of the neck is 6-11 kilograms. Their distinctive feature was the dark plumage and bare head, the neck is covered with a small number of feathers. They have long and wide wings, the span of which is 310 centimeters.
The distinctive anatomical feature of the neck is the large volume of goiter and stomach. Also, the vulture is distinguished by its nutrition - scavenger. It feeds exclusively on the corpses of mammals, mainly ungulates. Vultures live on all continents except Antarctica and Australia. The species is widespread in Africa, south of the Sahara.
2. Andean Condor
Weight: 15 kg
The largest member of the vulture family. His body weight is 15 kilograms. Because of its large wings, the span of which is 3 meters. This fact made condor the largest bird of prey in the world.
They live long enough up to 50 years. These birds are located in the Andes. A feature of this bird has become a bald head, many consider it ugly. But this is a distinctive part in carrion birds. The condor feeds on birds and sometimes even eggs of other birds. After long starvation, he can eat about 3 kilograms of meat.
1. Pink Pelican
Weight: 15 kg
Particularly beautiful bird. It differs from the above listed by its interesting pale pink shade of plumage. Pink pelican became one of the largest, the male weighs 15 kilograms, and the female is half as much. The wingspan is approximately 3.6 meters.
His interesting flight lies in the deep wingspan, he tries to soar longer in the air. A feature of the pink pelican was its long beak.
They feed on marine inhabitants, mainly it is a large fish that they manage to catch. These birds are located in the area from the Danube to Mongolia. Unfortunately, the pink pelican is considered an endangered species and they are listed in the Red Book.