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Over millions of years, birds have developed forelimbs – wings that allow them to climb into the sky. These creatures can sleep, eat, and mate while flying. But what strikes us most is their ability to fly in the clouds.
Migratory birds have the ability to reach incredible heights, easily joining the world’s most powerful man-made air vehicles. These creatures have inspired architects of air travel, as well as skydivers, zipliners and soaring roller coasters.
Many high flying birds are migratory, animals that travel long distances for seasons or mating reasons. The migration of turtledoves, swallows and storks is 3000 years old, which is noted in the writings of Aristotle, Homer and in the Book of Job.
Today, modern science is using technologies such as satellites and bird ringing to track high-flying birds on their journeys. It seems that when birds migrate, they use celestial signals to change the length of the day, the earth’s magnetic field, mental maps, the sun and stars.
But enough fancy talk. Let’s get to the heart of this blog. We would all like to be able to jump in the air like these 10 tallest flying birds in the world.
# 1 Ruppell Griffon Vulture – 37,000 ft.
At 37,000 feet, the vulture is believed to be the highest in the bird kingdom. You might think that thin air would cause problems. But the Ruppell bar has a unique hemoglobin that creates an efficient oxygen consumption system.
The Ruppell vulture has a wingspan of 7.54 to 8.2 feet in length. These birds usually weigh between 15 and 20 pounds. Scavengers have excellent eyesight, they can observe a corpse from a great height. They can reach speeds of up to 22 miles per hour and stay aloft for hours.
The griffin is a member of the vulture family. Read more about necks here.
# 2 Crane – 33,000 ft
The common crane can climb over 30,000 feet and fly over the Himalayas. This bird, also known as the Eurasian crane, has been seen in northern parts of Asia and Europe. A medium-sized crane has a wingspan of six to eight feet.
The crane is a distant migrant and hibernates in North Africa. During migration, common cranes tend to fly in a V-shaped group. They have a characteristic call and very long legs. One of the most unique features of the crane is the ruffle of the tail feathers on the head.
You can read more about the conventional crane here.
# 3 Goose with a Bar Head – 29,000 ft
A barbell goose can climb 29,000 feet, which is enough to swim across Mount Everest. Native to Central Asia, the bird adapts perfectly to the high peaks of the Himalayas, where the air pressure drops dynamically low. These geese have more lung capacity than other species in the family.
There are more blood cells in the body. In flight, they can increase cardiac output. Their names come from the dark stripes surrounding the head. They live in high-mountainous lakes throughout Central Asia. In winter, birds migrate south, capable of covering 1,000 miles in one day.
The bar-headed goose, unsurprisingly, is the goose’s cousin, which you can read about here.
# 4 Whooper Swan – 27,000 feet
This swan with its cry is a big bird. Whooper swan loves flooded meadows, tundra, wetlands, ponds and lakes. They inhabit Southern Eurasia. You will notice them by their yellow-black beaks and long neck. In colder months, the whopper swan travels to countries such as Germany, Britain and Denmark.
Like many migratory birds, the whooper swan will move in a “V” shape, made up of thousands of animals. They usually hover around 8000 feet during migration. But records show that they rose to an altitude of 27,000 feet above sea level.
Find out more about the swan family here.
# 5 Alpine Chow – 26,500 feet
Alpine onion lives in the high mountains of Central Asia and Southern Europe. Since these animals have bright yellow beaks, these animals are also called yellow-billed animals. The nests of the alpine mounds are located at an altitude of 21,000 feet or more, making them the tallest nest in the world.
Easily adapting to a thin atmosphere, alpine waders have exceptional flying skills. They soar eerily around the highest peaks of the Himalayas. And they can do it in the coldest winters and the harshest winds. You will find alpine partridges hiding in picnic areas and mountain restaurants where people happily let people feed them.
The alpine jackdaw is a member of the crow family.
# 6 Bearded Vulture – 24,000 Feet
This is a large species of vulture, a bearded creature that lives in the mountainous regions of southern Europe. The birds reach four feet in height and weigh between 11 and 15 pounds. The wingspan is eight to nine feet wide.
Carcasses and bearded men feed exclusively on the bones of the found carcasses. They swallow small bones whole. The acid in their stomach breaks down the chunks for easier digestion. Large bones are lifted into the air and thrown off. The bird turns to eat the shards.
Find out more about the vulture here.
# 7 Mallard – 21,000 feet
The Mallard is a migratory wild duck native to Europe and North America. The mallard has a stunning yellow beak and iridescent green head. Females may have black and orange spots on their beaks.
These species often live in flocks and often mingle with other members of the duck family. Before the onset of winter, the mallard migrates south in search of cooler temperatures. They usually hover between 1,000 and 4,000 feet, but have flight records of 21,000 feet.
Read more about mallard duck here.
# 8 Velvet Godwith – 20,000 feet
Breeding in Siberia and Alaska and spending winters in New Zealand and Australia, the Skew-tailed Crusader is known for participating in the world’s longest continuous migration.
Moving south from Alaska, these birds cover almost 6,000 miles without rest. These large, long-billed nomads usually get from point A to point B 6,000 miles later, seven or eight days later. Add to that the ability to reach a maximum altitude of 20,000 feet during migration, and you have one of the world’s toughest and most flying birds.
# 9 White Stork – 16,000 ft
The white stork is a wading bird. This popular creature stands out for its neck, which can reach 45 inches. You will find them in the warmer regions of Western and Central Asia and Europe. The creature’s wingspan can reach 7.5 feet with bright white plumage.
White storks winter in Africa. They are going on a journey in huge thousands of flocks. The journey south (and back) can take almost six weeks. The bird follows heavy thermal systems across Europe to the Strait of Gibraltar and the Sahara Desert.
You can read about a pair of white stork cousins here and here.
# 10 Andean Condor – 15,000 feet
The Andean condor is a predator. These are birds of prey that feed on carrion or live prey. With exceptional vision, they can spot food from an incredible distance. Animals use a sharp beak and strong claws to attack and gather meat.
These large creatures inhabit the grassy plains and high regions of South America. They weigh up to 33 pounds with a 10-foot frame length. They reach 15,000 feet and fly majestically. In many countries, the Andean condor is a symbol of freedom, power and good health. It is the national bird in many parts of South America.
Next: Goat vs. Sheep: 6 Key Differences Explained
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