Birds are amazing creatures that come in all shapes and sizes. Some birds are really big and heavy! Let’s learn about the ten heaviest birds in the world and what makes each one special.
The king penguin is the second-largest penguin and lives on islands near Antarctica. They are about three feet tall, which is almost as tall as a small child. The heaviest king penguin ever recorded weighed 44 pounds, which is about as heavy as a big dog!
The great bustard is the heaviest bird that can fly. It lives in Europe and Asia. With a wingspan of nearly nine feet, it can weigh up to 46 pounds. That’s like carrying a big backpack!
The lesser rhea, also known as Darwin’s rhea, lives in South America. This bird can’t fly, but it can run really fast, up to 37 miles per hour! It can grow to be about three feet tall and weigh up to 63 pounds.
The dwarf cassowary is the smallest of the cassowary family and lives in New Guinea. It can grow up to five feet long and weigh 75 pounds. Even though it’s called “dwarf,” it’s still pretty big!
The greater rhea is the largest bird in South America. Males can be as tall as six feet and weigh around 88 pounds. That’s taller than most adults!
The emperor penguin is the biggest penguin of all. It lives in Antarctica and is known for breeding during the cold winter. These penguins can weigh up to 100 pounds, which is like carrying a small person!
The emu is the largest bird in Australia and the second-tallest bird in the world. They can grow over six feet tall and weigh up to 150 pounds. Emus have strong legs and can run fast!
The northern cassowary is a big, flightless bird found in New Guinea. It likes to eat fruits and small animals. These birds can weigh up to 170 pounds, which is really heavy!
The southern cassowary lives in Indonesia, New Guinea, and northern Australia. They can grow over six feet tall and weigh up to 190 pounds. That’s like carrying a big suitcase!
The ostrich is the tallest, heaviest, and fastest running bird in the world. Males can be over nine feet tall and weigh up to 346 pounds. Ostriches also lay the largest eggs of any bird!
These incredible birds show us how diverse and adaptable birds can be all around the world. Isn’t it amazing how different they all are?
Bird Weight Comparison: Gather some household items like a backpack, a small suitcase, and a big dog stuffed animal. Try to estimate which bird from the list each item might weigh as much as. For example, the great bustard weighs like a big backpack. Discuss with your family or friends how these birds might carry their weight differently than the objects you chose.
Bird Height Challenge: Use a measuring tape to measure the height of some of the birds mentioned in the article. For example, measure three feet for the king penguin and six feet for the greater rhea. Compare these heights to your own height and see how many of you it would take to reach the height of an ostrich!
Bird Observation Walk: Take a walk in your neighborhood or a local park and try to spot different birds. Observe their size, shape, and how they move. Can you find any birds that remind you of the ones you learned about? Draw a picture of your favorite bird from the walk and write a sentence about what makes it special.
