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| Top 10 Highest Flying Birds |
Top 10 Highest Flying Birds In The Sky With Pictures
It is every human's dream to fly in the sky like birds. But humans have airplanes to fly in the sky and a commercial flight can travel at an altitude of about 30000-40000 feet. There are some bird species in this world that can easily reach such heights.
Over millions of years these birds have developed wings that let them fly high in the sky and not only this, these magnificent birds can sleep during flight. But what amazes us the most is the ability of these magnificent birds to take to the clouds.
Migratory bird species have the unique ability to achieve incredible heights and these birds easily join the height of the world's most powerful man-made airplane. Let us introduce you today to the 10 highest flying magnificent birds in the world.
1. Rüppell's vulture
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| Rüppell's vulture |
Height: 37000 feet
If the question is which is the highest flying bird in the world? So the answer is Ruppel's Vulture, which flies at an altitude of about 37000 feet, which is the highest flying bird ever recorded.
At such a height in the sky, the presence of oxygen is very less as compared to the ground. But these magnificent high-flying birds have a special type of hemoglobin in their body which makes the intake of oxygen more effective.
Rupell's Vulture It is a type member of the vulture family and their length is about 1 meter and weight is between 7-9 kg. Apart from this, the wingspan of Ruppel's vulture is between 2.3-2.5 meters. Ruppel's vulture can fly at a speed of 22 miles per hour and can stay in the air for hours.
2. Common Crane
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| Common Crane |
Height: 33000 feet
The common crane is the second highest flying bird in the sky in the world. Common cranes are known to fly in the Himalayas at an altitude of around 33000 meters and the common crane is also known as the Eurasian crane which is found in the northern parts of Europe and Asia.
The common crane is a medium sized bird and has a wingspan of between 1.8-2.4 meters. The common crane is a long distance migratory bird and winters in North Africa. Common cranes form a large V shape while flying in the sky during their migration.
3. Bar-Headed Goose
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| Bar-Headed Goose |
Altitude: 29000 feet
The bar-headed goose is a migratory bird species that can fly up to a height of 29000 feet, even higher than Mount Everest. Bar-headed goose are native to Central Asia and these birds are perfectly adapted to fly over the Himalayan peaks where the air pressure is low.
The high-flying bar-headed goose has a higher lung capacity than other geese. Bar-headed goose birds have more red blood cells in their body and can also increase cardiac output in flight. The bar-headed goose is named after the two black stripes around the head of these birds.
This magnificent bird named bar-headed goose inhabits high altitude lakes in Central Asia. Bar-headed goose migrate south during the winter season and can cross a distance of 1000 miles in a single day during migration.
4. Whooper Swan
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| Whooper Swan |
Altitude: 27000 feet
Whooper swan is a large migratory bird and this bird is named after its whooping voice. Whooper swan Birds inhabit flooded grasslands, wetlands, tundra, lakes and ponds of southern Eurasia.
Whooper swan Birds are known for their long necks and yellow and black beaks. Whooper swans migrate to Denmark, Germany and Britain during the winter season and during migration they form large flocks consisting of thousands of birds.
Whooper swans fly in V shape during their journey during the winter season. Apart from this, Whooper swans mostly fly at an altitude of 8000 feet during migration and can reach a height of 27000 feet in the sky. Read- Top 11 Dumbest Bird Who Do Not Learn From Their Mistakes
5. Alpine Chough
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| Alpine Chough |
Height: 26500 feet
It is a medium-sized mountain bird named Alpine Chough which lives in the high mountains of Southern Europe and Central Asia. Alpine Chough is also known as Yellow Beak which is named after the bright yellow beak of this bird.
With flying high in the sky, Alpine Chough is the highest nesting bird in the world. Alpine Chough built a nest at an altitude of 21300 feet and Alpine Chough is capable of flying up to a height of about 26500 feet in the sky.
Alpine Chough is famous in the world for its amazing flying skills. Alpine Chough Birds easily circle the high peaks of the Himalayas and this bird living in the mountains can fly at great heights even in winter.
6. Bearded Vulture
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| Bearded Vulture |
Height: 24000 feet
Bearded vultures are a large species of vultures and live in the mountainous regions of Southern Europe. Bearded vulture birds are 4 feet long and weigh between 5-7 kg. The wingspan of Bearded vulture birds is 2.5-2.7 meters.
Large and strong wings help bearded vultures fly above mountainous areas and bearded vultures are capable of flying at an altitude of 24000 feet above the ground. Bearded vultures are also known as bone eaters because they mostly eat the bones of carcasses.
Bearded vultures swallow small bones whole and if these birds find a large bone, they drop the bone from a height on the rocks and break the bone into small pieces. Also, the acid in the stomach of the bearded vulture can easily digest bone pieces.
7. Mallard Bird
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| Mallard Bird |
Altitude: 21000 feet
Mallard It is a migratory wild duck and is found in North America and Europe. Mallard ducks are famous in the world for their iridescent-green head and bright yellow beak. Before the onset of winter season, mallard ducks migrate south where the temperature is mild. Mallard ducks mostly fly at an altitude of 1000-4000 feet and are also known to fly at an altitude of 21000 feet.
8. Bar-Tailed Godwit
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| Bar-Tailed Godwit |
Altitude: 20000 feet
The bar-tailed godwit is a strong migratory bird species with a long beak and breeds in Alaska and Siberia and winters in Australia and New Zealand. Apart from this, bar-tailed godwits are also known for the longest non-stop migration.
During their journey from Alaska to the south, Bar-tailed godwit cover a distance of about 11000 kilometers without rest. These amazing birds cover such a long distance in just 7 or 8 days. During the flight, Bar-tailed godwit Birds can reach a height of 20000 feet in the sky.
The most amazing thing about Bar-tailed godwit Birds is their ability to migrate long distances without rest. The length of Bar-tailed godwit Birds is between 14-16 inches and the wingspan is 31 inches. Compared to other species of birds, Bar-tailed godwit consumes very less energy from its body. Read- Strawberry Finch Facts | A Bird That Looks Like Strawberry
9. White Stork
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| White Stork |
Height: 16000 feet
The white stork is a popular water bird known for its beautiful long neck and its size is up to 45 inches. White stork birds live throughout Europe and warm regions of West-Central Asia. The wingspan of White stork Birds is 2.3 meters and it is beautiful white in color.
White storks are migratory birds and spend the winter season in tropical Africa. During migration, White storks form large flocks consisting of thousands of their members. Apart from this, white storks can also reach a maximum height of 16000 feet in the sky.
10. Andean Condor
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| Andean Condor |
Height: 15000 feet
The Andean condor is a giant-sized predatory bird living in high peaks and grasslands in South America. The Andean condor is a large flying bird. Andean Condor weighs up to 15 kg and their wingspan is up to 10 feet 6 inches which is the longest of any predatory bird in the world.
Andean Condor This magnificent bird loves to glide in the air and can go up to a height of 15000 feet in the sky. Andean Condor is also considered a symbol of strength, freedom and health and this bird is the national bird of Bolivia, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. But Andean Condor is an endangered bird species.
Due to excessive hunting and loss of habitat of Andean Condor, the number of these birds is decreasing. Andean Condor are scavenging birds which mainly eat carrion. Andean Condor has sharp eyesight due to which it can easily see carrion while flying in the sky.
Interesting Facts About The Highest Flying Birds
1. Which birds can fly the highest?
If the question is which is the highest flying bird in the world? Then the answer is Ruppell's vulture flying at a height of about 37000 feet which is the highest flying bird ever recorded.
2. Why do flying birds appear high?
It can be concluded by saying that a bird flying high in the sky appears to be at a higher height than the reality because of the phenomenon of temperature gradient around refraction.
3. How can birds fly so high in the sky?
When there is more air at the bottom then there is a push because the push falls on the broad flat part of the bird's wing so this push lifts the birds up. So while flying in the sky a bird's wing rotates in the forward direction in the air and is pushed from the bottom to the top.
4. Why can't birds fly high?
High up in the sky the air is thinner and there is less oxygen so the wings cannot make it as high which means some birds have had to evolve to overcome these challenges. It is said that most birds fly at an altitude of about 150 metres.
5. Why do birds fly in circles at high altitudes?
If birds are looking for prey they may circle an area for some time. Also these birds are scanning for small mice or insects or whatever they are hunting. Bird species also ride thermals when traveling long distances such as during migration.
6. Which bird never flies?
There are many birds in the world that cannot fly in which penguins are a famous example of flightless birds. An Okarito Kiwi also known as Rovi Common Ostrich.
7. Which is the heaviest flying bird?
The heaviest flying bird alive today is the Kori Bustard and it is native to Africa whose male bird weighs up to 18 kg.
8. Why do birds fly in a triangular shape?
According to the principles of aerodynamics, he knew that bird species generate Bernoulli lift due to upwash and downwash on the edges of their wings. He further proposed that birds flying in a v shape use the upwash of neighboring birds to reduce induced drag and thus conserve energy in flight.
9. What is it called when birds fly together?
A group of birds flying together is often called a flock and when starlings swoop and circle together it is called a murmuration.
10. Which bird can sleep while flying?
Frigatebirds are known for their ability to sleep while flying and use a technique called unihemispheric sleep where one side of their brain sleeps while the other side remains alert.