This is HUGE! Top 10 Largest Birds in the World

While the ostrich is well-known as one of the largest birds in the world, there are many others who deserve a shout. Here is a list of the largest birds in the world, flying as well as flightless.
Blast from the Past
Argentavis magnificens, an extinct bird known only through fossils, is believed to have been the largest flying bird known to man. It had a wing span of up to 7 meters, almost twice that of the largest of extant birds, and weighed more than 50-60 kg, which would only be bettered by the ostrich out of all extant birds.
The last living relatives of the dinosaurs, more often than not, live up to the famed proportions of their almost-mythic ancestors. Who would think of a gigantic sauropod or a terrifying tyrannosaur when they see a sparrow? Who would be reminded of the triceratops by seeing a crow?
There are some birds, though, that, while not quite reaching the levels of dinosaurs, are giants in their own rights. Ostriches, for example, would comprehensively dwarf most humans. Moas and elephant birds, now extinct, would have dwarfed even ostriches!
Here's a list of the 10 largest birds that can fly as well as those that can not fly.
There are some birds, though, that, while not quite reaching the levels of dinosaurs, are giants in their own rights. Ostriches, for example, would comprehensively dwarf most humans. Moas and elephant birds, now extinct, would have dwarfed even ostriches!
Here's a list of the 10 largest birds that can fly as well as those that can not fly.
The Winged Giants
This is a list of the top 10 heaviest birds alive today; weight is the criterion normally used to list the 'largest' birds. Most of these are too large to fly, and many even lack the skeletal structures (a keel on the breastbone) necessary for flight.
* Individuals of large swans or bustards, particularly male kori bustards, may be heavier than dalmatian pelicans, but on average the latter is heavier. Male kori bustards can reach weights of 44 lb (20 kg), but the females are significantly less massive.
As you can see, most of these birds can't fly. The dalmatian pelican, in fact, may be the heaviest flying bird when both sexes are taken into consideration. Losing the ability to fly allowed these terrestrial or aquatic (penguins) birds to gain solid, heavier bones instead of the hollow bones seen in flying birds.
Here are several other 'largest' birds according to different definitions of 'largest'.
As you can see, most of these birds can't fly. The dalmatian pelican, in fact, may be the heaviest flying bird when both sexes are taken into consideration. Losing the ability to fly allowed these terrestrial or aquatic (penguins) birds to gain solid, heavier bones instead of the hollow bones seen in flying birds.
Here are several other 'largest' birds according to different definitions of 'largest'.
► The dalmatian pelican, in general one of the largest creatures to fly, also gets a podium place in the standings for the longest wingspan. However, the wandering albatross, a bird that spends virtually its entire life airborne, has wings that can extend up to 3.5 meters that give it the title.
These were the largest birds alive today. However, these giants are nothing compared to their extinct nonflying ancestors, which included the elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus), weighing 880 lb and standing 3 meters tall, and the moa (Dinornis robustus), which was even taller, but weighed "only" 500 lb. Good thing, these 'bird-zillas' are gone from the face of the Earth, then!