These Are The Biggest Birds Found In The World

It's hard to know exactly how many species of bird there are in the world. However, it's believed that the number could be as high as five figures, which just goes to show how many of these creatures exist out there. Of course, most of us will only ever encounter a fraction of these animals because of how they're spread around the world.

While a lot of birds will share similar features with one another, including wings and the potential ability to fly, there's also a lot that separates them from one another. That includes size, with some of them incredibly tiny while others are enormous. The biggest birds of them all are definitely hard to miss because of their size, and it's these that have our attention today.

Greater rhea are the largest bird in the Americas at 88 lbs

You can encounter some big birds in the US. However, it's in other parts of the world that you'll typically find the biggest of all these animals. The largest you'll find anywhere in the Americas is the greater rhea, with this creature making its home in countries like Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. While it might bear some resemblance to an ostrich, it's much smaller, coming in at just under five feet. It's a lot lighter, too, with these birds apparently able to grow to roughly 88 lbs. While that's pretty heavy, the birds only get heavier from here.

Emperor penguins can apparently be 101 lbs, which helps keep them warm

Birds might have wings, but that doesn't mean they can all fly. One of the most notable examples of this is penguins, with all species of this animal unable to soar through the sky. That inability to fly might explain why these creatures - and others on this list - are some of the biggest birds in the world. The Emperor penguin, for instance, can grow to be 101 lbs, something that likely comes in handy as they deal with the icy chill of the Antarctic. After all, a proportion of that weight comes from the layer of fat they have beneath their features.

Emus can be intimidating creatures, especially at a reported 154 lbs

Another flightless bird that is also on the larger side is the emu, which makes its home in Australia. Reportedly able to run at nearly 30 mph, they can be quite unnerving to encounter, especially as the females can apparently be over six feet tall. The grunting sounds they make don't help matters either, with these noises allegedly able to cover great distances. Thankfully, emus supposedly aren't as aggressive as other flightless birds like cassowaries and ostriches. So, as long as you don't provoke them, you shouldn't find yourself facing the wrath of a 154-lb bird.

Southern cassowaries are supposedly both tall and capable of being 187 lbs 

The Southern cassowary is already a notable bird, thanks to it being so reminiscent of dinosaurs. One look at its sharp claws, colorful head, and prominent horn - or casque - and it's clear why these animals are likened to those ancient creatures. However, there's more to the Southern cassowary than the dinosaur connection, with these birds also some of the biggest in the world. At 5.5 feet, they're not the tallest - although that's still an intimidating height - but their alleged 187-lb stature does make them one of the heaviest winged creatures around. It's definitely not a bird that you should mess with.

A Somali ostrich is apparently capable of being 287 lbs

Ostriches are some of the most fearsome animals, and that's partly down to their weight. One of the biggest birds in the world is the Somali ostrich, which can reportedly be as big as 287 lbs. While it's not quite the heaviest bird out there, it's incredibly close, with a similar species taking the top spot. Allegedly, the Somali ostrich actually used to be the same animal as the common ostrich. However, geographical separation led to the two species evolving differently and becoming distinct from one another. 

Common ostriches can reportedly weigh as much as 344 lbs

Supposedly, there's no bird in the world bigger than the common ostrich. Reportedly able to grow as tall as nine feet, this creature can apparently be as heavy as 344 lbs. That's a little under double what the average American human male allegedly weighs, meaning it's one animal you wouldn't want to be in a fight against. Despite its weight, this bird can still reach speeds of 43 miles per hour, so it really is quite an intimidating foe. Should you get on the wrong side of one during a visit to Africa, you may find yourself in a lot of trouble.

At sizes like these, we're not sure we want to get too close to any of these birds. Regardless of whether they're aggressive or not, it's hard not to feel a little unnerved by creatures this size. We're still impressed by them, though.