Top 10 Highest Flying Birds in the World

Migratory birds are given as the high flyer ones because they migrate for breeding, food and wintering grounds. All of them belong to the warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate family. Let's take a look at the top 10 highest flying birds in the world, which will help readers improve their general knowledge.

Top 10 Highest Flying Birds in the World

Birds are warm-blooded egg-laying animals with feathers and forelimbs transformed into wings. The migratory birds are high flyers because they often migrate to north and south along a flyway, between wintering and breeding grounds.

Highest Flying Birds in the World

1.White Stork

Founded: Southwestern Asia, Europe, southern and north-western Africa

The White Stork is a popular wading bird with a characteristic long neck that extends roughly 45 inches. They inhabit the warmer regions across West-central 

Asia and Europe. The white stork has a wing span of 2.3 metres and a stunning white plumage.

White storks are said to be the strong migrant birds, they spend the winter season in the tropical Africa region. They form large flocks that hold thousands of members during the migration. Also, the white storks can reach a higher maximum altitude of 16000 feet.

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Scientific Name: Ciconiidae

Maximum Flying Height: 16,000 feet

2.Bar-Tailed Godwit

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It is founded in Arctic and Tundra coasts of Eurasia and winters in the temperate and tropical habitat of Africa, Europe, Australia Asia and New Zealand

Scientific Name: Limosa lapponica

Maximum Flying Height: 20,000 feet

It is a bar-tailed godwit and a strong migrant, a large wandering bird having a distinctive long bill. They breed in Siberia and Alaska and winter in New Zealand and Australia. These bar-tailed godwits are also well-known for the longest non-stop migration.

At the time of the epic journey from Alaska to the South, bar-tailed godwits cover up to 11000 kms with no rest. These amazing birds cover such a long route in simply 7 or 8 days. Also, the Bar-tailed godwits could reach a maximum height during the flight of 20000 feet.

Most of the amazing thing about these bar-tailed godwits is their capability to perform the long-distant migration with no rest. They hold a length between 14 to 16 inches and a maximum wingspan of 31 inches. Compared to the other species of birds, these bar-tailed godwits consume very little energy from the body. Also, they feel less air resistance as they hold an aerodynamic body shape.

3. Mallard

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Mallard is given as a migratory wild duck, which is found in Europe and North America. Mallard ducks are more notable for their bright yellow bill and iridescent-green head. Prior to the start of winter, the mallard ducks migrate to the South, where the temperature is mild. Usually, the mallard ducks travel at an altitude of about 1000-4000 feet. But they are well known for flying at a range of 21000 feet.

Founded in: The Range in and spans both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Scientific Name: Anas platyrhynchos

Maximum Flying Height: 21000 feet

4.Andean Condor

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Founded in: South American Andes Mountains

Scientific Name: Vultur gryphus

Maximum Flying Height: 21,300 feet

Andean condor is defined as a massive raptor inhabits in the grassy plains and high peaks across South America. It is said to be a large flying bird that weighs around 15 kg. Spanning around 10 ft 6 in, Andean condors hold the longest wingspan of any raptor across the world. Also, they love to glide in the wind and can reach a maximum height of about 15000 feet.

Also, the Andean condor is regarded as a symbol of liberty, health and power. It is also the national bird of Columbia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile. Unfortunately, the majestic Andean condor is given as an endangered species. Over habitat loss and hunting are the primary causes.

Andean condors are the scavengers, which majorly feed on carrion. They contain excellent eyesight and also could spot carrion very easily while gliding high in the sky. The powerful claws and sharp hooked beak let them collect the meat from carcasses easily.

5. Bearded Vulture

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Founded in: Mountainous regions of Asia, Africa, and Europe

Scientific Name: Gypaetus barbatus

Maximum Flying Height: 24,000 feet

The bearded vulture is said to be a large species of vulture, which inhabits Southern Europe’s mountainous areas. They can weigh between 5-7 kg and reach around a height of 4 feet. They also have a 2.5-2.7 metre wingspan. The large and strong wings let the bearded vultures to soaring high more than mountainous areas. They can also fly at altitudes of up to 24000 feet above ground level.

The bearded vultures are also referred to as a ‘bone-eater’ because they feed exclusively on carcass bones. On the whole, they swallow small bones. If a bearded vulture gets a big bone, then it would break the bone into fine and smaller pieces by dropping the same bone from a height on the rocks. Also, the bearded vulture’s stomach acid can digest the bone pieces easily.

6.Alpine Chough

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Founded in: High Mountains of Europe, northern Africa, and Asia

Scientific Name: Pyrrhocorax graculus

Maximum Flying Height: 26,500 feet

The Alpine Chough is a medium-sized mountain bird that can be found in the high ranges of Central Asia and Southern Europe. Also, they are known as yellow-billed chough, which is named after their bright yellow bill. The Alpine Chough is also the world's highest nesting bird. It constructed its nest at a height of 21300 feet. They are perfectly adapted to live in thin atmosphere.

7.Whooper Swan

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Founded in: Wetland areas in Europe and Asia

Scientific Name: Cygnus Cygnus

Maximum Flying Height: 27,000 feet

Whooper swan is defined as a large migratory bird, which is named after its ‘whooping’ calls. They inhabit wetlands, flooded grasslands, tundra, ponds and lakes of Southern Eurasia. They are notable for their long neck and black and yellow bill. In winter season, the whooper swans migrate to Germany, Britain and Denmark.

At the time of the migration, they form large flocks, which contain thousands of individuals. They fly in ‘V’ formations at the time of their journey to wintering grounds. Usually, the whooper swans fly at an altitude of 8000 feet at the time of migration. But, from sea level, they can reach a maximum height of 27000 feet.

8.Bar-Headed Goose

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Founded in: High-altitude lakes in Asia

Scientific Name: Anser indicus

Maximum Flying Height: 27,825 feet

Bar-headed goose is explained as a migrating bird, which can ascend to a height of 29000 feet, which is higher than Mount Everest. Bar-headed geese are the ones, which are native to Central Asia. They've been specially designed to fly across the Himalayan ranges, where the air pressure is extremely low. Compared to other geese, bar-headed geese have a larger lung capacity. Their body holds more red blood cells and also can increase the cardiac output in flight.

Bar-headed geese get their name from the two dark bands that run across their heads. They inhabit high-altitude lakes across the Central Asia region. In the winter season, the bar-headed geese migrate to the South. They can also cross a distance of 1000 miles in one day during migration.

9.Common Crane

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Founded in: Northern parts of Europe and Asia

Scientific Name: Grus grus

Maximum Flying Height: 33,000 feet

The common crane is said to be the second-highest flying bird in the world. They are well-known to fly across the Himalayas at a maximum height of 33000 meters. Common cranes are also referred to as Eurasian cranes, which live in Northern parts of Asia and Europe. The medium-sized bird contains a wingspan between 1.8-2.4 meters. It is also a long distant migrant bird and wintering in Northern Africa. During migration, the common cranes form large ‘V’ shape formations.

10.Ruppell's Griffon Vulture

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Founded in: Sahel region of central Africa

Scientific Name: Gyps rueppellii

Maximum Flying Height: 37,000 feet

Ruppell's griffon vulture is the world's highest-flying bird, flying to an altitude of 37000 feet. Compared to the ground, the presence of oxygen is less at such great altitudes. But, the vulture’s body of Ruppell contains a special type of haemoglobin and helps to take the oxygen intake more effective.

Ruppell's griffon vulture belongs to the vulture family. They hold an approximate length of 1 meter and weighs between 7 to 9 kg. The wingspan of the vulture measure of the Ruppell between 2.3 to 2.5 meters. They can fly at a high speed of 22 mph and stay in the air for few hours. The vultures of Ruppell are scavengers. They have excellent eyesight and can locate carcasses from considerable distances.

These are the top 10 highest flying birds in the world or simply the highest flying birds in the world.