Largest Ever Flying Bird

[Waspie_Dwarf]

The world's largest ever bird revealed: 'Condor' with a 24-FOOT wingspan soared across the skies 28 million years ago

• Pelagornis sandersi was so heavy it could get off the ground by taking a running jump downhill into a headwind - much like a hang glider
  
• It would have weighed up to 180lbs (81.5kg) with stumpy legs
  
• The bird's wingspan was more than twice the size of a modern albatross
  
• Scientists used computer simulations to predict how the bird flew

The largest bird that ever flew, which had a staggering 24ft (7 metre) wingspan, was so heavy it would have had to take off like a hang glider.

Computer simulations have revealed that the prehistoric condor-like Pelagornis sandersi could only have left the ground by taking a running jump downhill into a headwind.

Read more...

Edited July 7, 2014 by Waspie_Dwarf

[freetoroam]

out of all the things which could have been built, from one big bird to another! :

The fossil was unearthed in 1983 in South Carolina when construction workers began digging a new terminal at the Charleston International Airport.

http://www.dailymail...-years-ago.html

Edited July 7, 2014 by freetoroam

[Crabby Kitten]

A massive condor figure appears on the Nasca landscape.

[shrooma]

QUOTE-

This graphic shows how the

enormous 'condor', which lived 28

million years ago, compares to

modern-day birds.

QUOTE-

The Pelagornis sandersi is

a species of pelagornithid - an

extinct group of giant seabirds

believed to be ancestors of pelicans

and storks

.

didn't know that condors & pelicans were the same thing....?

.

[Troublehalf]

Haast Eagle put to shame. Wonder what a fight would be like.

[maximusnow]

You could eat on an egg for months.

[paperdyer]

Big Bird! We've found your Roots!

[skookum]

Imagine that nicking your chips at the seaside or pooping on your car!!

Edited July 11, 2014 by skookum

[psyche101]

Haast Eagle put to shame. Wonder what a fight would be like.

The first bird I thought of too. It was about double the size of Hassts Eagle, I'd say due to it's immense size, Hassts Eagle would be more agile and have an advantage there. It used to kill Giant Moa, which are large ground birds by swooping from the sky and breaking it's neck.

Imagine that nicking your chips at the seaside or pooping on your car!!

[psyche101]

You could eat on an egg for months.

Interesting point!! I wonder if it would be larger than the egg of an Elephant Bird?

[toast]

*snip poo-poo pic*

That exactly was my first thought when I read the topic. Or just imagine you are walking along the beach with yr grl and a swarm

of Pelagornis will pass you and °°@#. You need to have a GPS sender with you that the rescue workers will be able to find you

within 3 hrs in that pile. On the other hand, the prices for Guano would be much lower, good for the farmers.

Edited July 11, 2014 by toast

[taniwha]

The largest ever flying animal was by far bigger than that...

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterosaur_size

[Lilly]

The largest ever flying animal was by far bigger than that...

http://en.m.wikipedi.../Pterosaur_size

Ok, but a Pterosaur wasn't a bird.

[maximusnow]

Interesting point!! I wonder if it would be larger than the egg of an Elephant Bird?

WTH? Elephant bird? that is a new one for me.... researching.

[SameerPrehistorica]

hmm...So this bird challenges the previous record holder Argentavis.