Most of the birds that appear in yards are tiny. They can land on bird feeders and rest inside birdhouses. Yet, not all birds are small. Some are taller and even heavier than a human while others have a wingspan wider than a person’s height. While you probably won’t find the biggest birds in the world near your home, they’re some of the most majestic animals you’ll ever see.
Here are the 15 Biggest Birds in the World
If you’re interested in learning more about the largest animals on our planet, here are the biggest birds in existence, starting from the fifteenth biggest to number one.
15. Wild Turkey (Big North American Bird)
- Weight: 6 to 24 pounds
- Height: 3 to 4 feet
- Wingspan: 4 to 5 feet
Wild turkeys live across North America, most commonly in wooded areas. While they can have a wide range of sizes in the wild, they’re often the biggest in captivity because of selective breeding practices. Turkeys have large enough wings to help them fly, but only short distances because of their weight.
14. Dwarf Cassowary
- Weight: 37 to 57 pounds
- Height: 3 to 4 feet
- Wingspan: Less than 2 feet
Not only are dwarf cassowaries slightly smaller than other cassowaries, but they also lack distinct wattles. They live in areas with high elevations across New Guinea. They primarily eat fallen fruit, which helps distribute seeds. They’re shy and solitary, running and jumping to avoid threats since they can’t fly.
13. Lesser Rhea
- Weight: 33 to 55 pounds
- Height: 3 to 4 feet
- Wingspan: 4 feet
Lesser rheas, also known as Darwin’s rheas, are the smaller rhea species, but they’re still much larger than most birds. Besides their size, the coloring can distinguish the two rheas. Greater rheas have dark, solid feathers while lesser rheas are typically light brown and spotted. Lesser rheas live in scrublands and grasslands in Patagonia and nearby areas of South America.
12. Andean Condor (Bird with Biggest Wingspan)
- Weight: 17 to 33 pounds
- Height: 4 feet
- Wingspan: 10 to 12 feet
Not only are Andean condors heavy, but they also have one of the largest wingspans in the world. You can spot them flying across the Andes Mountains in South America. They typically fly in windy areas, making it easy to support their weight by gliding. While males and females look similar, males have brown eyes while females have red eyes.
11. Emperor Penguin (Biggest Penguin)
- Weight: 50 to 100 pounds
- Height: 3.6 to 4.3 feet
- Wingspan: 3 feet
Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species by far, in addition to being one of the biggest birds in the world. They live across Antarctica and the floating ice around the continent. Even though they’re flightless birds, they can’t walk fast either. They need to slide on their bellies or dive into water to move quickly. Rather than building a nest, the male incubates the egg under a loose skin fold while the female goes to hunt.
10. Snowy Albatross
- Weight: 6 to 16 pounds
- Length: 3.4 to 4.6 feet
- Wingspan: 8 to 12 feet
The snowy albatross, also known as the wandering albatross, might not be the heaviest bird, but it’s one of the biggest birds in the world because of its wingspan. These birds spend most of their time flying over the Southern Ocean, only returning to land every year or two. They can glide for several miles by only flapping their wings once.
9. Kori Bustard (Heaviest Flying Bird)
- Weight: 12 to 42 pounds
- Height: 2 to 5 feet
- Wingspan: 7 to 9 feet
Kori bustards are the heaviest flying birds in the world, with males weighing much more than females. They live in open grasslands and savannas across eastern and southern Africa. They’re primarily carnivorous, eating just about anything, including insects, small mammals, lizards, snakes, and carrion. Yet, they may occasionally eat berries and seeds too.
8. Greater Rhea (Biggest South American Birds)
- Weight: 33 to 66 pounds
- Height: 3 to 5 feet
- Wingspan: 5 feet
Rheas are large, flightless birds with a similar shape to ostriches and emus. They live in grasslands and scrublands across southeastern South America. Greater rheas are the larger of the two rhea species in the world, and they’re the biggest birds in South America. While the females typically live in groups, the males incubate the eggs and then care for the chicks alone.
7. Marabou Stork
- Weight: 10 to 18 pounds
- Height: 5 feet
- Wingspan: 7 to 12 feet
Marabou storks are tall while also displaying an impressive wingspan. Even though they’re so large, they have hollow leg and toe bones to make them lighter so they can fly easier. They live in a variety of open habitats across Sub-Saharan Africa, including savannas, grasslands, swamps, and riverbanks. When hunting, they often fly toward fires so they can scoop up fleeing animals.
6. Emu
- Weight: 70 to 100 pounds
- Height: 4.9 to 6 feet
- Wingspan: Less than 1 foot
Emus are dinosaur-like birds living across Australia in woodlands, open plains, and grasslands. They’re shorter and have darker, shaggier feathers than ostriches, but they’re still very fast. They can run up to 31 miles per hour, making it easy for them to outrun predators. They got their name because males make calls that sound like they’re saying “e-moo.” The females make loud booming sounds instead.
5. Dalmatian Pelican
- Weight: 16 to 33 pounds
- Height: 5 to 6 feet
- Wingspan: 8 to 12 feet
Dalmatian pelicans are another one of the biggest birds in the world capable of flying. They live in open wetlands across southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. They can migrate far across their range, but they always find their way back to the same nesting spot when it’s time to breed. Their huge bills and gizzard pouches allow them to eat two to three pounds of fish per day.
4. Northern Cassowary
- Weight: 66 to 130 pounds
- Height: 5 to 6 feet
- Wingspan: 1 to 2 feet
Northern cassowaries are slightly smaller than southern cassowaries. Their face color is often a little darker, and they have a single wattle rather than a double one. They primarily live in lowland rainforests of northern New Guinea. Despite their striking appearance, they’re shy and solitary, only interacting with other cassowaries when mating. If provoked, both northern and southern cassowaries can be extremely dangerous, so keep a distance.
3. Southern Cassowary
- Weight: Up to 170 pounds
- Height: 5 to 6 feet
- Wingspan: 1 to 2 feet
Besides being some of the biggest birds in the world, cassowaries are also some of the coolest. The southern cassowary isn’t nearly as large as an ostrich, but they’re still too heavy to fly. These birds have solid black bodies, but their heads are a beautiful light blue color. They live in tropical rainforests of northeastern Australia and nearby islands. They have powerful legs and sharp claws to protect themselves from predators, and they can run up to 31 miles per hour.
2. Somali Ostrich
- Weight: 200 to 290 pounds
- Height: 5.7 to 9 feet
- Wingspan: 6.5 feet
Somali ostriches, the only other living ostrich species, are about the same weight and height as common ostriches. These ostriches stand out because they have a blue-gray neck while common ostriches have pinkish necks. They’re native to the horn of Africa, and they prefer to live near denser vegetation than common ostriches. They browse instead of graze, meaning they primarily seek high-growing plants.
1. Common Ostrich (Biggest Flightless Birds)
- Weight: 190 to 300 pounds
- Height: 6 to 9 feet
- Wingspan: 6.6 feet
Common ostriches are easily the tallest and heaviest birds in the world. While their wings aren’t strong enough to lift their bodies off the ground, they can sprint up to 43 miles per hour. They live in open habitats of eastern Africa, allowing them to easily see predators so they can escape in time. Their huge eyes, which are bigger than their brains, make their eyesight excellent.
Keep an Eye Out for the Biggest Birds in the World
While the biggest birds in the world likely won’t appear in backyards, you might see them when traveling or visiting zoos and sanctuaries. They tower over the birds we’re used to seeing, so take a moment to admire them if you ever get the chance. Witnessing one is truly an experience you won’t forget.
