Flightless Birds

There are many bird species that have lost the ability to fly due to evolution. While you may be familiar with some of them already, the odds are that there are quite a few which you aren’t. So here are some of the top flightless birds and what you’ll want to know about them.

South Island Takahe

The South Island takahe can easily be identified by its huge bright red beak that extends onto its forehead as a frontal shield. It is the largest species of rail in the world. Fortunately due to conversation efforts this New Zealand native was saved from extinction. This rare flightless bird is under threat from invasive species mainly in the form of predation by stoats and completion for food with red deer.

Ostrich

Easily one of the most recognizable of all birds, the ostrich is the largest flightless bird in the world. It also happens to be the largest bird species on the planet.  The ostrich is found in open country in Africa where it is well-known for its ability to go long periods of time without water.

Emu

Standing at over 5 feet tall, the emu is considered to be the second-largest bird on the planet. These flightless Australian birds have shaggy-looking feathers that can make it seem as if they have hair on their heads and body. Emus lay dark green eggs which the male, not the female, incubates. The male also looks after the young after they are hatched.

Rhea

The rhea is a large South American flightless bird. There are two species of rhea: the common rhea and Darwin’s rhea. In the wild rheas often form mixed herds with animals such as guanacos and deer.

Cassowary

A brightly colored flightless bird with a helmet-like crest on its head is an accurate way to describe the cassowary.  This Australian species is also considered to be the most dangerous bird in the world. That’s because of both its tendency to kick when threatened and the fact that its feet are equipped with large razor-sharp claws.

Penguins

Penguins are a group of aquatic birds that includes around 18 species, most of which only live in the Southern Hemisphere. Their flightless wings are used as powerful flippers for swimming instead of flying. And that’s important because these highly-skilled swimmers spend most of their time in the water looking for food for themselves and their young.

Junin Grebe

This is a flightless bird species that is only found in Lake Junin in the country of Peru. It is also appropriately known as the Junin flightless grebe. These are aquatic diving birds whose diet includes various invertebrates and small fish.

Galapagos Cormorant

Like its name suggests this species can be found in the Galapagos Islands where it hunts for fish and other sea creatures near the shoreline. It is the only cormorant species that have lost the ability to fly and because of this, it’s also known as the flightless cormorant. Despite being the largest species of cormorant, it has short stocky wings (since they aren’t needed for flying).

Kakapo

The kakapo is a green flightless parrot from New Zealand. This nocturnal bird is also known as the owl parrot.  In addition to being the only nocturnal parrot on the planet, it is also the world’s heaviest parrot, and the only flightless parrot.

Kiwi

The flightless kiwi bird is a national icon in its homeland of New Zealand. In fact, New Zealanders themselves are affectionately known as “Kiwis,” around the world. This species belongs to the group of flightless birds known as ratites, which include the emu, cassowary, ostrich, and rhea.

Weka

Also known as the Maori hen, the weka is yet another one of New Zealand’s flightless birds. It is an omnivorous brown bird that is similar in size to a chicken and belongs to the rail family. Interestingly it is well-known for its habit of stealing shiny objects.

Start Shopping for Birding Supplies!