It is difficult to say which bird is the largest in the world. To do this, choose one of many criteria. As a result, there is still no objective assessment: one bird has a larger wingspan, the other is longer from the crown to the end of the paws, the third weighs most.
The largest bird in the world according to ornithologists
I still want to start with the mention of the largest flying bird in the history of the planet. It is called argentavis majestic. It existed about 5-8 million years ago in what is now Argentina.
The giant bird was a falcon-shaped and had a wingspan of up to 8 meters. The length of the giant's body was 1.8 meters with an average weight of 78 kilograms. It is believed that argentavis was a predator and ate small animals. He chose a victim from the height of his flight and attacked from the air.
Among the living species, African ostrich from the ostrich family is in the first place in the ranking. The bird has also won in another ranking: its eyes, in relation to the size of the head, are the largest of those that exist on Earth.In addition, the ostrich has an outstanding height of 2.8 meters and a weight of about 175 kilograms.
If you translate the scientific name of this species, it sounds like a "sparrow-camel." The inability to fly bird compensates for the outstanding abilities of the runner. The maximum possible speed that the ostrich develops is 70 kilometers per hour.
The body of the bird is covered with dense plumage, while the head and legs are completely bare. You can see this miracle in the dry regions of Africa and in the Middle East. Many zoos also offer their guests to meet with representatives of this species.
In case of danger, the ostrich runs away, with each step has a length of up to 4 meters. It can also drastically change the direction of movement without slowing down the running speed.
TOP largest birds in nature
In addition to the recognized giants, which were discussed above, there are still hundreds of large birds living in the world who are in their own way champions. Many of them, due to their height, may well be a danger to humans. This is due to the presence of sharp, strong beaks and strong legs with claws.
Barred Owl
This bird is just one of those who can be dangerous to humans. It looks bright and has a fluffy feather on the body. The motley owl is a predator that lives in the swamps in the southern United States of America.
The wingspan of the feathered reaches 1.2 meters, and the weight is about 1.5 kilograms. The bird eats small animals that it attacks from the air. In addition, the owl diligently guards its territory. If a person intrudes on it, the bird can attack. She usually attacks the intruder’s head, clawing at it and trying to damage it with its beak. The result can be deep bloody wounds, so it is recommended to step on the territory of a tilting armored person in a helmet.
Red-tailed Hawk (Red-tailed Hawk)
It is the most famous and largest species of hawks. He lives in areas with small forests, parks and prairies. Bird weighs up to 2 kilograms, wingspan reaches 1.5 meters.
The buzzard builds nests on treetops and carefully defends them. If during the construction of the nest a man enters the territory, then the falcon is most likely attacking. He traumatizes the victim with huge claws. For this reason, in the state of Connecticut, outdoor sports enthusiasts are moved into the halls for the time of nesting buzzards.
Crow-whistler, or black-necked singing crow (Australian Magpie)
The raven whistler is a close relative of ravens and ravens, which are used in our strip. Also, his relatives are members of the family of Shrikes. These birds usually include terrestrial invertebrates in their menu. The wingspan of a singing crow reaches 1 meter. Protecting its territory, such a raven can intentionally harm an uninvited guest, whether it is another bird or a person. The history even recorded deaths when these large birds inflicted dangerous injuries with their beak, claws and wings on the head and face of a person.
Snowy Owl
White owl can be seen in the sensational film about the young wizard Harry Potter. It is the northernmost bird in the world. They live and breed near the Arctic Circle. They are not confused by the temperature of about - 50 degrees Celsius. The height of the species reaches half a meter, and the wingspan is 1.2 meters. Owls can weigh up to 2.7 kilograms.
Bird nests look like slides of unmelted snow on land covered with vegetation. If you get too close to them, the owl will rush to the attack, trying to hurt the head and face with its sharp claws and strong sharp beak. Those who came under the attack of such a bird should cover their faces with their hands and hastily retreat from the battlefield.
Black beak loon (Great Northern Loon)
The loon is one of the most primitive bird species on Earth. They can boast a long history of the species, which lasts from the very early stages of evolution. Most often Gagar can be found near the lakes, in the taiga, in forests with a temperate climate and the arctic tundra.
Divers are migratory birds that fly away in winter closer to places with a warm climate.They spend the winter in bays in the Northern Hemisphere. The average loon weighs 5 kilograms. Their beaks and claws are sharp and strong enough to cause significant damage to the human body. The elongated beak is able to pierce through the fish carcass, which is very useful when hunting. In recent years, the population has thinned noticeably due to pollution of lakes.
Bearded Man (Lammergier)
The name of the bird is translated as the vulture hunting for lambs. But lambs are not the main part of the giant's diet, unless the animal is so weak that it becomes easy prey for the neck. At the same time, representatives of the species are definitely predators.
Vultures prefer solid food that is thrown from above in order to grind. They also love the bone marrow, which is extracted from the bones picked by the vultures of carcasses. Similarly, bearded vultures produce turtle meat, dropping them from a height.
Each of the birds in the list is unique in its own way. Not only the large size attracts attention to it. Peculiarities of behavior, habitat, and character make all these species curious to bird watchers and other scholars in related fields.
