The avian world is filled with wonders, but few can match the sheer awe inspired by the world’s heaviest flying bird.
Imagine a creature capable of taking flight while carrying the equivalent weight of four gallons of paint. This remarkable bird is very real, and its existence challenges our preconceived notions about the limits of avian flight.
Largest Bird with the Power of Flight
The kori bustard (Ardeotis kori), a magnificent bird native to Africa, holds the title for the heaviest flying bird. Males typically weigh between 24-42 pounds and boast an impressive wingspan of up to 9 feet.(ref)
Females are considerably smaller, roughly half the size of their male counterparts. The largest confirmed kori bustard, recorded in 1936, weighed a staggering 40 pounds.(ref)
Habitat & Diet
Kori bustards inhabit two distinct ranges in South and East Africa, spending most of their time on the ground foraging. Their diet is diverse, ranging from insects, reptiles, and small rodents to seeds, berries, and roots.
Despite being largely sedentary, they do undertake local movements. However, their populations are listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.(ref)
Great Bustard: A Close Competitor
The great bustard (Otis tarda), another species of bustard, comes in a close second for the heaviest flying bird. While slightly lighter than the kori bustard, with a maximum weight of 13-39 pounds, the great bustard is known for its impressive migration patterns.
They embark on round trips of over roughly 2,485 miles between their breeding grounds in Mongolia and their wintering sites in China.(ref)
Sexual Dimorphism
Both kori bustards and great bustards exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, with males being considerably larger than females.
In fact, the great bustard may hold the record for the largest size difference between sexes among bird species, with males weighing up to four times as much as females.(ref)
Ostrich is the Flightless Heavyweight
While not a flying bird, the southern African subspecies of the common ostrich, the South African ostrich (Struthio camelus australis), deserves a mention as the world’s heaviest bird. These flightless giants can reportedly weigh up to 343 pounds.(ref)
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.