Birds come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny hummingbirds to enormous ostriches. When it comes to wingspan, which bird has the widest spread wings? There are a few contenders for the title of widest wingspan.
Birds with Wide Wingspans
Some birds that are known for their huge wingspans include:
- Albatrosses
- Condors
- Eagles
- Pelicans
- Hawks
Of these birds, albatrosses, condors, and pelicans have some of the widest wingspans across species. Let’s take a closer look at each of these birds and their wings.
Albatrosses
Albatrosses are large seabirds that soar over the open ocean. They have the largest wingspan of any living bird species. There are around 22 species of albatrosses, and they are found across the southern oceans near Antarctica. The wingspan of different albatross species ranges from about 2.4-3.7 meters (8-12 feet).
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any albatross and any living bird. Wandering albatrosses have a wingspan averaging about 3.4 meters (11 feet). The wingspan of the largest wandering albatross on record was an astounding 3.7 meters (12 feet!).
Condors
Condors are very large vultures found in North and South America. There are six species of condors, with wingspans ranging from about 2.6-3.3 meters (8.5-10.8 feet).
The Andean condor is the largest flying bird by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. Andean condors weigh up to 15 kg (33 lbs) and have an average wingspan of about 3.3 meters (10.8 feet). The California condor is another massive condor, with an average wingspan of 2.9 m (9.5 feet).
Pelicans
Pelicans are large water birds known for their enormous throat pouches used for catching fish. There are eight living species of pelicans, all of which have very wide wingspans.
The Dalmatian pelican and great white pelican have the widest wingspans of any pelican species, both averaging about 3 meters (10 feet). However, the largest winged pelican ever recorded was a Dalmatian pelican with an incredible wingspan of 3.7 meters (12 feet).
Largest Wingspans
Now that we’ve looked at some of the birds with the widest wings, which species has the largest wingspan on record? Here are the birds with the largest verified wingspans:
| Bird | Wingspan |
|---|---|
| Wandering Albatross | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
| Dalmatian Pelican | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
| California Condor | 3.1 m (10 ft) |
As you can see, the wandering albatross and Dalmatian pelican are tied for the largest wingspan on record at 3.7 meters (12 feet). These two giant birds can truly claim the title of widest wings!
Why Such Large Wingspans?
Birds like albatrosses, pelicans, and condors have evolved immense wingspans for different reasons. Let’s look at why each group has such wide wings:
Albatrosses
Albatrosses have evolved gigantic wing spans due to their lifestyle of soaring long distances over open oceans. Their large wings provide enough surface area to generate lift and keep the bird aloft. This allows albatrosses to glide vast distances without flapping their wings.
In fact, albatrosses have the longest migratory routes of any bird, often flying thousands of miles across oceans in search of food. Their large wings are well-adapted for soaring these immense distances with ease.
Condors
Condors are massive vultures that rely on air currents and thermals to soar over land while scavenging for carrion. Their broad wings allow them to gain altitude and glide for long distances without flapping.
Once a condor spots a carcass, its wide wings provide enough surface area to help it swiftly descend to the ground. The large wings also create drag and act as air brakes to allow controlled, graceful landings.
Pelicans
For pelicans, their tremendous wings help them in diving for fish. Pelicans will tuck their wings in to dive head first into the water to catch prey. When they hit the water, their folded wings provide force to drive the bird deeper below the surface.
Once under water, pelicans will unfold their wings slightly to help propel them as they chase fish. When a pelican is ready to surface, it will swing its wide wings open to paddle upwards and take flight.
Unique Adaptations
The types of wings these birds possess also have unique anatomical adaptations to support their large spans:
Lightweight Bones
Albatrosses, condors, and pelicans all have hollow, lightweight wing bones. Pneumatized bones increase the bird’s buoyancy and reduce the weight of carrying immense wings.
Sturdy Shoulder Joints
These birds have expanded shoulder joint surfaces and sturdy ligaments that provide a stable base to attach those massive wings.
Long Primary Flight Feathers
The primary flight feathers along the wing’s leading edge are exceptionally elongated in these species. The long primaries increase surface area and allow the wings to generate more lift.
Slotted Wing Tips
Albatrosses and giant petrels have slotted wing tips, where the feathers separate vertically near the tip. This unique structure reduces turbulence and drag at the end of the wings.
Conclusion
With their immense wingspans, albatrosses, condors, and pelicans are perfectly adapted for their lifestyles of soaring over oceans, coasts, and land. The wandering albatross and Dalmatian pelican hold the records for the widest wings on the planet. No other living bird can match their spectacular 3.7 meter (12 foot) wingspans!
