Top 10 Largest Birds in The World (Living)
In the long evaluation process, nature gifted us several small and large gorgeous birds as well as monster looking birds. Know about Top 10 Smallest Birds in the world
So let’s have a look at the list of top 10 largest living birds in the world.
10. King penguin
Average mass : 13.6 kg, Maximum mass : 20 kg, Average total length : 92 cm
King penguin secures 10 spot in the list of Top 10 Largest living birds in the world. As the name suggests,it’s the king of all penguins, and largest among them. King penguin weight about 14 kilograms and can grow up to 1 meter tall. King penguin eats krill, small fish, squid and other small sea animals. The hard climate and temperature of the extreme south forced king penguin to become social. They are heavily social and helps each other to acquire heat during ice storm. King penguin can regularly dive in the sea to a depth of 100 meter, and highest recorded king penguin dive was 300 meters. King penguin mainly lives in Antarctic and some sub-antarctic island.
9. Great bustard
Average mass : 14 to 19 kg, Maximum mass : 21 kg, Average total length : 90 cm to 110 cm
Great bustard is the heaviest flying bird in the world. One specimen of male bustard weighted 21 kg. An average male bustard is about a meter tall and has a wingspan of 2.4 meters. Female bustard is smaller in dimension than male counterpart. Bustards are omnivorous and takes different food at different season which helps them to live up to 10 years in the wild. In controlled environment great bustard is known to live up to 15 years. upper portion and tail of this bird is covered by brown & black wing, whereas lower portion and head is covered by whitish feather. Great bustard is the 9th largest bird in the world and heaviest flying bird.
8. Lesser rhea
Average mass : 19.6 kg, Maximum mass : 28.6 kg, Average total length : 100 cm
Lesser rhea, also known as the Darwin’s rhea is a flightless bird mainly found in southern part of South America (Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Perú). Lesser rhea can be up to 1 meter high and 28 kg in weight. Lesser rhea has a small head and a relatively big body and neck. Despite of it’s inability to fly, it can run at a speed of 60km/hr, providing it an edge over predators. Sharp claws in it’s two powerful legs help it to fight predator, protect egg and dig for food. Lesser rhea survives on fruit and grasses. During mating time male lesser rhea become very aggressive to protect its territory. Darwin’s rhea ranks 8th in top 10 largest birds in the world list.
7. Dwarf cassowary
Average mass : 19.7 kg, Maximum mass : 34 kg, Average total length :105 cm
It is the smallest of all cassowary species, primarily found in mountain forests of New Guinea, New Britain, and Yapen Island. Dwarf cassowary is a solitary bird and pairs with male in the breeding season. They feed on mainly insects, small animals and fallen fruits. They are flightless but with their strong legs they run up to a speed of 48 km/h.
6. Greater rhea
Average mass : 23 kg, Maximum mass : 40 kg, Average total length : 134 cm
Greater rhea, is another South American flightless bird. Greater Rhea is larger and heavier than it’s counterpart lesser rhea. Greater rhea is more spread out than Darwin’s rhea and can be found in Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia. A greater rhea can be up to 1.3 meters tall and as heavy as 40 kg. Average greater rhea lives about 10 years in the wild. Body and construction of Greater rhea is similar to lesser rhea, only thing which differs is size and body mass. Greater Rhea is the largest bird in South America and 6th Largest bird in the world.
5. Emperor Penguin
Average mass : 31.5 kg, Maximum mass : 46 kg, Average total length : 114 cm
Emperor penguin which rules all other species with it’s weight and length. Emperor penguin weights about 31 kg, more than half of which is fat. Body fat behind the skin helps them to survive in the extreme winter of Antarctica (up to -65 degree C). Emperor penguin can grow up to 1.1 meter. Back portion and head of Emperor penguin is covered with black waterproof feather which helps them to capture as much heat as possible from sunlight. Front portion is covered by white waterproof feather. Neck portion of both male and female emperor has whitish bright yellow feather. Emperor Penguin lives around 20 years in the wild, but in ideal condition they can live up to 50 years. Emperor penguins can only be found in the Antarctica. Body weight and length puts Emperor in the Top 5 among top ten largest birds in the world.
4. Emu
Average mass : 33 kg, Maximum mass : 70 kg, Average total length : 153 cm
Emu, close relative to cassowaries species, is a flightless bird native to Australia. This is the national bird of Australia. Emus can reach up to a height of 2 m, which makes them second tallest amongst the birds. Emus have three sub-species, amongst them two sub-species (novaehollandiae and woodwardi ) are widely found in several places in Australia throughout the country. Their main diet consists of fruit, seed, insects, some dead creatures like rodent, bird, insects etc.
3. Northern cassowary
Average mass : 44 kg, Maximum mass : 75 kg, Average total length : 149 cm
Also known as single-wattled cassowary, is a flightless bird with black plumage. Female is slightly larger than the male, weighing an average of 44 kg, making it the third heaviest bird in the world. It is found in the islands of Yapen, Batanta and Salawati. Fruits and small animals consist of in their primary diet.
2. Southern cassowary
Average mass : 45 kg, Maximum mass : 85 kg, Average total length : 155 cm
Southern cassowary, also known as double-wattled cassowary, is the second largest bird in the world. They are unable to fly like Ostrich. It is primarily found in the tropical rainforests of Indonesia, New Guinea, and islands of northern Australia. It feed on the fruits, insects and vertebrates. The males incubate the eggs and rare the chicks alone.
1. Ostrich
Average mass : 104 kg, Maximum mass : 156.8 kg, Average total length : 210 cm
Ostrich is the largest living bird on Earth. Ostrich can not run with their heavy wings but they can run at high-speed with their strong long legs. Ostriches lay the biggest/heaviest eggs weighing about 1.4 kg. Ostriches are mainly found in Africa. They consume mainly fruit, grass, flowers and even reptiles like snakes, lizards when occasionally available. Male ostriches are good fathers as they help building nests, incubating the eggs and look after the chicks.
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