 helps them to live up to 10 years in the wild. In a controlled environment, great bustard is known to live up to 15 years. upper portion and tail of this bird are covered by brown & black wing, whereas lower portion and head is covered by a whitish feather. Great bustard is the 9th largest bird in the world and heaviest flying bird.
8. Lesser rhea
Average mass : 19.6 kg, Maximum mass : 28.6 kg, Average total length : 100 cm
Lesser rhea, also known as Darwin’s rhea is a flightless bird mainly found in southern part of South America (Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Perú). Lesser rhea can be up to 1 meter high and 28 kg in weight. Lesser rhea has a small head and a relatively big body and neck. Despite its inability to fly, it can run at a speed of 60km/hr, providing it an edge over predators. Sharp claws in its two powerful legs help it to fight predator, protect the egg and dig for food. Lesser rhea survives on fruit and grasses. During mating time, male lesser rhea becomes very aggressive to protect its territory. Darwin’s rhea ranks 8th in top 10 largest birds in the world list.
7. Dwarf cassowary
Average mass : 19.7 kg, Maximum mass : 34 kg, Average total length :105 cm
It is the smallest of all cassowary species, primarily found in mountain forests of New Guinea, New Britain, and Yapen Island. Dwarf cassowary is a solitary bird and pairs with a male in the breeding season. They mainly feed on insects, small animals, and fallen fruits. They are flightless but with their strong legs they run up to a speed of 48 km/h.
6. Greater rhea
Average mass : 23 kg, Maximum mass : 40 kg, Average total length : 134 cm
Greater rhea is another South American flightless bird. Greater Rhea is larger and heavier than it’s counterpart lesser rhea. Greater rhea is more spread out than Darwin’s rhea and can be found in Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia. A greater rhea can be up to 1.3 meters tall and as heavy as 40 kg. Average greater rhea lives about 10 years in the wild. Body and construction of Greater rhea are similar to lesser rhea, the only thing which differs is size and body mass. Greater Rhea is the largest bird in South America and 6th Largest bird in the world.
5. Emperor Penguin
Average mass : 31.5 kg, Maximum mass : 46 kg, Average total length : 114 cm
Emperor penguin which rules all other species with its weight and length. Emperor penguin weights about 31 kg, more than half of which is fat. Body fat behind the skin helps them to survive in the extreme winter of Antarctica (up to -65 degree C). An emperor penguin can grow up to 1.1 meters. Back portion and head of Emperor penguin are covered with the black waterproof feather which helps them to capture as much heat as possible from sunlight. Front portion of its body is covered by white waterproof feather. Neck portion of both male and female emperor has a whitish bright yellow feather.
Emperor Penguin lives around 20 years in the wild, but in an ideal condition they can live up to 50 years. Emperor penguin only lives in Antarctica and it’s surrounding ocean. Body weight and length puts Emperor in the Top 5 among top ten largest birds in the world.
Average mass : 33 kg, Maximum mass : 70 kg, Average total length : 153 cm
Emu, close relative to cassowaries species, is a flightless bird native to Australia. This is the national bird of Australia. Emus can reach up to a height of 2 m, which makes them second tallest amongst the birds. Emus have three sub-species, amongst them, two sub-species (novaehollandiae and woodwardi ) are widely found in several places in Australia throughout the country. Their main diet consists of fruit, seed, insects, some dead creatures like rodent, bird, insects etc.
3. Northern cassowary
Average mass : 44 kg, Maximum mass : 75 kg, Average total length : 149 cm
Also known as single-wattled cassowary, is a flightless bird with black plumage. A female is slightly larger than the male, weighing an average of 44 kg, making it the third heaviest bird in the world. It is found in the islands of Yapen, Batanta, and Salawati. Fruits and small anim