Largest Wingspan Bird There are around 10,000 types of birds, but which ones are the biggest? It’s tricky because we can measure size in different ways: length, weight, or how much space they take up in the bath.
When talking about flying animals, it makes sense to focus on how much they darken the sky when they land rather than comparing their weight to fractions of an African elephant.
This article talks about the biggest flying birds based on how wide their wings are. It also mentions some really impressive heavy birds.
Some bird weights are guessed from different reports, while others are definite. We’ve intentionally skipped very similar species to avoid a repetitive list of almost identical vultures, pelicans, and albatrosses.
Here’s our list of the top ten largest flying animals, considering how wide their wings are, how heavy they are, and adding a bit of variety to make it interesting.
Largest Wingspan Bird In The World
- Wandering Albatross
Wingspan: 3.2 meters (10.5 feet)
Weight: 12 kilograms (26.4 pounds)
Among the animals listed, this particular one likely faces the least competition. While other albatross species approach its wingspan, the Wandering Albatross consistently measures at 3.2 meters, with reports suggesting it may reach 3.5 meters.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest wingspan recorded for any living bird species was attributed to a wandering albatross with a wingspan of 3.63 meters (11 feet 11 inches). This record was established in 1965 when scientists aboard the Antarctic research ship USNS Eltanin documented the bird in the Tasman Sea. However, verifying this claim can be challenging.
These creatures are adept at covering extensive distances, with the ability to traverse over 120,000 kilometers (75,000 miles) in a year and travel 900 kilometers or more in a single day.
Indeed, their only pauses occur for feeding and breeding, as they dedicate nearly their entire lives to the skies.
- Cinereous Vulture
Wingspan: 3 meters (9.8 feet)
Weight: 13 kilograms (28.6 pounds)
This raptor faces considerable competition, especially with the Himalayan vulture boasting a wingspan of similar proportions. Determining placement becomes challenging, but the cinerous vulture stands out with its distinctive name and a noticeable difference in weight.
The cinerous vulture holds the title as the largest Old World vulture and is a member of the bird of prey family.
This species spans from Spain across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Notably long-lived, exceptional individuals have been recorded living close to 40 years.
Poisoning and habitat loss led to their extinction in many parts of Western Europe, but reintroduction programs have shown success in revitalizing their populations.
Although primarily scavengers, some farmers raise concerns about these birds preying on young pigs and cattle within domesticated herds, given their considerable size.
- Andean Condor
Wingspan: 3 meters (9.8 feet)
Weight: 16 kilograms (35.2 pounds)
This condor surpasses the average weight and wingspan of almost every other flying animal, establishing it as generally the largest flying creature on average.
Male bustards frequently surpass them in weight, and the remarkably long wingspans of certain other birds can also outdo the condor.
On average, these birds claim the title of the largest flying species, boasting an immense wing area that enables them to remain airborne for extended periods without the need for frequent wing flapping. This efficient adaptation saves a significant amount of energy for a bird of such substantial size.
The Andean condor holds the title of the largest flying bird in the Western Hemisphere and globally when considering both weight and wingspan measurements.
- Marabou Stork
Wingspan: 2.9 meters (9.5 feet)
Weight: 9 kilograms (20 pounds)
Similar in height to the secretarybird but significantly more adept at flight, these colossal birds sift through trash heaps in East Africa, casting an ominous shadow as they approach.
Claims circulate about the Marabou stork attaining wingspans exceeding 3 meters, with some proposing it rivals the American Condor for the largest wingspan among flying animals. However, as of now, these assertions lack reliable backing.
Nevertheless, it undeniably ranks among the largest birds. Despite their bald heads and peculiar appendages resembling testicles beneath their necks, they may lack the charm of condors but possess a certain unattractive cuteness.
Standing at a height of 1.2 meters and boasting a wingspan of 2.9 meters, the marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) are among the largest birds on Earth.
- Kori Bustard
Wingspan: 2.47 meters (8.1 feet)
Weight: 18 kilograms (39 pounds)
This robust bustard is not just the likeliest contender for the title of heaviest flying animal; it also secures a spot on the list for one of the most extensive wingspans.
Similar to the secretary bird, it possesses flight capabilities but dedicates more time to ground activities, such as foraging and engaging in skirmishes with the secretarybird.
While there are assertions of reaching 20 kilograms, a more reliably reported weight is 18 kilograms. Standing over a meter tall, its substantial weight serves as a defense against its more agile competitor.
- Trumpeter Swan
Wingspan: 2.4 meters (7.9 feet)
Weight: 15 kilograms (33 pounds)
Now we’re talking about some really big birds. The Trumpeter swan is the largest waterfowl, and it’s heavier than most birds on this list.
These swans are all over North America, and they’re bigger and louder than their relatives in Europe. Some European groups survived being hunted for their meat and feathers.
Because of their huge size, not many animals bother them, except for human hunters. They live peacefully with few enemies.
The young ones eat a lot of insects full of protein, and the grown-up swans mostly stick to a vegetarian diet, helping them live for more than 30 years.
- Steller’s Sea Eagle
Wingspan: 2.3 meters or more (7.5 feet)
Weight: 10 kilograms (22 pounds)
Now, when it comes to eagles, things get a bit confusing. People really like eagles, and many countries have used them as symbols of power.
Because eagles are so awesome, everyone wants their eagle to be the biggest. So, there’s a competition. The contenders include Steller’s Sea Eagle from Russia, Harpy Eagle from Central and South America, the Philippine Eagle, and the pride of the US, both the Bald and Golden eagles (Britain’s robin didn’t make it to the finals).
Each eagle claims to have a wingspan above 2.4 meters (8 feet), but it’s hard to confirm. We’ve picked Steller’s Sea Eagle because it’s commonly measured as the heaviest eagle in the world, giving it some extra points.
- Secretarybird
Wingspan: 2.1 meters (6.9 feet)
Weight: 4.27 kilograms (9.4 pounds)
This bird seems like it belongs to the category of extinct monsters. It looks a lot like a prehistoric dinosaur!
secretarybird facts
It’s not just a heavy bird; it’s also one of the tallest, reaching up to 1.3 meters. Because of its size, weight, and body shape that isn’t great for flying, it relies mostly on the wind for lift.
It doesn’t flap its wings for long, and most of the time, you’ll find this bird running around in the tall grass, hunting for prey.
- Dalmatian Pelican
Wingspan: 1.9 meters (6.2 feet)
Weight: 15 kilograms (33 pounds)
The Dalmatian pelican is not only the largest pelican but also one of the biggest birds. It has a massive beak and an enormous wingspan, almost two meters, which is much larger than its namesake, the Dalmatian dog.
Dalmatian Pelican
These birds aren’t known for their elegance and can weigh up to 15 kilograms, making them one of the heaviest flying birds.
Some say their wingspan is even greater, challenging the bird at the end of this list. However, there’s no solid evidence for these claims, so they remain unconfirmed.
Nevertheless, average measurements of up to 1.9 meters are recorded, and some sources even mention a wingspan of up to 2.8 meters (from a book), confirming it as one of the largest birds in the air. The Great White pelican was a rival, but on average, the Dalmatian pelican takes the lead in size.
- Blakiston’s Fish Owl
Wingspan: 1.8 meters (6 feet)
Weight: 4.6 kilograms (10 pounds)
This is a special kind of eagle owl found in East Asia and Russia, and it’s pretty rare. It’s in a competition with its cousin, the Eurasian eagle owl, to see which one has the longest wingspan among owls. Both of them have wingspans of about 1.8 meters or a bit more.
The Eurasian owl might have a longer wingspan, but on average, the Blackston’s owl beats it. And because there are fewer Blackston’s owls around, they deserve the record.
And that’s the end of our research on the biggest birds flying around today.
But, why does size matter?
For many people, knowing the size of a bird is like having bragging rights, but for scientists, it’s an important measure. It helps us understand and protect the species and its environment.
By measuring size, we can learn about a bird’s physical features, how much it eats, the energy it needs, and how it contributes to the ecosystem by recycling nutrients.
Usually, male birds are bigger than females, but in some bird groups, like birds of prey, eagles, and shorebirds, it’s the opposite. We don’t exactly know why, but there are interesting ideas!
Remember, this list is only about birds that can fly, so we didn’t include those that can’t, like ostriches or southern cassowaries. These flightless birds make up just 1% of all bird species and generally have smaller wings but denser bones and much heavier bodies.
