Which bird is the heaviest flying bird?

The heaviest flying bird is the Somali Kori Bustard. 

The Somali Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori struthiunculus) is the largest flying bird native to Africa. It is native to dry, inland regions of East Africa, from Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, and Kenya to Tanzania and into South Africa. 

It grows to about 150 centimetres (59 inches) tall, with a wingspan of about 250 centimetres (98 inches). It weighs, on average, about 14-18 kilograms (31-40 pounds).

The Somali Kori Bustard has a large head and long thin yellowish legs. It has mostly grey and brown feathers, finely patterned with black and white markings. 

It is a ground-dwelling bird and walks slowly. It needs a lot of space to gain speed on the ground before taking off in flight. This is why it prefers open grasslands and lowlands.

It also takes a lot of energy for it to fly, so it usually only flies to escape danger and only for short distances.

Location of photographs: Eastern Kenya

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM