Some of the biggest birds on Earth can stand taller than any NBA player and spread their wings wider than kings size bed.
There are almost 10,000 species of birds on Earth and they come in all different shapes and sizes from the tiny bee hummingbird to the massive ostrich. Here are 10 of the biggest birds to inhabit our planet, including the tallest, heaviest and those whose wings spread the furthest.
1. Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) 344 pounds (157 kilograms)
The largest bird in the world weighs 344 pounds (157 kilograms) and towers over other birds at 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. But just because the common ostrich is heavy doesnt mean it cant run faster than a person. The tallest birds on the planet have extremely long legs and can cover about 10 feet (3 meters) per stride, achieving top speeds of around 43 miles per hour (69 kilometers per hour) about as fast as a racehorse.
Native to Africa, common ostriches are found in the east and south of the continent, south of the Sahara Desert. They mostly eat plant material, such as grass, roots, and succulents, but they also occasionally consume insects and small animals, such as mice and frogs. Their eggs are huge, weighing 3 pounds (1. 3 kg) each, which is equivalent to 20 chicken eggs.
Ostriches are the biggest members of the group of large, flightless birds called ratites, which lack a keel, which is the structure that attaches flight muscles in other birds. Ostriches, emus, cassowaries, kiwis and rheas are all ratites.
Greater rhea (Rhea americana)
Rhea are the South American cousins of ostriches, despite the fact that these birds may appear juvenile. Rhea can reach a height of five feet and weigh an impressive 66 pounds (30 kilograms) despite being only about one-fifth the size of an adult ostrich. 5 meters), as stated by the National Zoo of the Smithsonian According to the Houston Zoo, rhea are flightless birds that, like ostriches, use their wings to help with balance while sprinting up to 40 miles per hour. During the breeding season, female rhea can lay up to 40 eggs, but the males of the species will mark the eggs for about 30 days prior to hatching.
The southern cassowary is one of the most prehistoric-looking birds to prowl through New Guinea and mainland Australia. Towering up to 6 feet (2 meters) tall, cassowarys are one of the tallest birds on Earth, according to the Australian Museum. Topping off their height is a prominent helmet called a casque which is made of a thick layer of keratin the same material that makes up your nails and hair. Cassowaries use these helmets to push past vegetation as they run through the forest, according to the Edinburgh Zoo. As well as being one of the biggest bird species, they have also gained the reputation of being one of the most dangerous. As one of the few birds recorded to have killed humans, cassowary uses their sharp 3-toed feet which sports a middle 4 inch (10 centimeter) long toe to deliver a fatal swipe to its target, according to Scientific American.
5. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) 154 pounds (70 kilograms)
Like ostriches, emus are large, long-necked, flightless birds. This Australian native, which is taller and lighter than cassowaries, doesn’t care where it lives; it is content to live in scrub, desert, or forests. They consume plant matter, and when food is easily obtained, they can gain a lot of weight. In some parts of the continent, farmers who raise cattle and sheep consider them a nuisance because, despite their ability to survive without food, they need daily access to fresh water.
Emus that are female grow to a height of over 6 feet (1 9 meters) tall. They both produce loud, low-pitched booms that are audible from a great distance.