The tallest flying bird in the world

When talking about tall birds, many people may think of ostriches or king penguins. But many of the planet’s largest birds cannot fly. So what is the tallest bird that can fly? This title belongs to a species of crane with a prominent red head and a loud and resonant cry.

Crane family (Gruidae) includes 15 species, possessing a slender body. Among them, the red-crowned crane (Grus antigone) is the tallest flying bird, with a height of up to 1.8 m and a wingspan of about 2.5 m. This is a non-migratory bird, living in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and northern Australia. They nest in low wetlands and flooded rice fields.

Red-crowned cranes usually eat insects, fish, plants, and nuts. Adults weigh 5 – 12 kg, males are usually larger than females. Despite their large size, they can reach quite impressive speeds with the ability to fly 72 km/h.

Many species of cranes have elaborate courtship behaviors, and whooping cranes are no exception. To attract the attention of a mate, and possibly to establish a territory, they often perform elaborate jumping and calling displays. Their larynx is so strong that the sound emitted can be heard from kilometers away.

Along with its massive body and resounding cry, the red-crowned crane’s nest is also very large. These nests can be more than 1.8 m in diameter and are used to incubate 1 or 2 eggs per year. Both father and mother birds incubate and nurture the young.

Although there are not many predators on the ground, red-crowned cranes are currently classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This bird is threatened by habitat loss due to land development and agriculture, pesticide poisoning, hunting, and egg collection.

In addition, the families of dead red-crowned cranes often return to check on the carcasses, leading to the risk of further electrocution from electric wires along the road, according to KS expert Gopi Sundar from the Nature Conservation Foundation. However, Sundar has also seen them teach their young to avoid these deadly electric wires.

“They make a distinctive call when they come close to electric wires while flying. This helps the young birds know that they should move up or down to avoid the electric wires,” Sundar said.

Several efforts are being made to conserve whooping cranes, especially in their breeding grounds. Experts are looking to protect wetlands and restore populations through captive breeding projects.