When we think of birds, flying is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But did you know that not all birds are built for flight? Some birds have evolved to live perfectly without ever taking off.
Out of over 11,000 known bird species, around 60 are completely flightless. That’s a small number, but each one tells a unique story of adaptation, environment, and evolution. Such as why would a bird lose the ability to fly and so on.
In this article, we’ll explore what birds can’t fly, the reasons behind their grounded lifestyles, and how nature shaped them into the survivors they are today. Let’s dive in.
What Birds Can't Fly? Meet 14 Fascinating Flightless Birds
Out of the 60 bird species that we mentioned don’t have the ability to fly high, we’ll be discussing 14 of them today. These flightless birds have adapted to their environments in unique ways, showcasing the incredible diversity of avian life.
1. Ostrich
The ostrich holds the title of the world’s largest and heaviest bird, standing up to 9 feet tall and weighing over 150 kilograms. Native to Africa, these birds have powerful legs that allow them to run at speeds of up to 70 km/h. This also makes them the fastest-running birds on land.
Their inability to fly is compensated by their speed and strong legs, which they use for defense against predators. Ostriches have small wings relative to their body size. They use them for balance and courtship displays rather than flight.
These birds thrive in open savannas and deserts, feeding on a diet of plants, seeds, and insects. They lay the largest egg as well, with each weighing around 1.4 kilograms.
2. Emu
The emu is the largest bird living in Australia and the second-tallest bird in the world. It stands up to 1.9 meters tall, with adults weighing between 30 and 45 kilograms. Emus have long necks and legs, which enable them to run at speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph).
They are flightless due to their small wings and large body size. These birds are omnivores, which means they feed on the same plants, seeds, and small animals.
Emus are known for their migratory behavior. It means they travel long distances in search of food. Moreover, during the breeding season, they incubate the eggs and care for the chicks.
3. Cassowary
Cassowaries are also large birds that cannot fly. They live in the tropical forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. Interestingly, they are the second-heaviest living birds, with females weighing up to 58 kg.
These birds have a striking black plumage, a vivid blue and red neck, and a prominent casque atop their head. Its function is still debated, but most believe that it may be related to sound resonance or protection.
Due to their role in seed dispersal, they are considered keystone species in their ecosystems. However, habitat loss and vehicle collisions are a significant threat to their populations.
4. Kiwi
Kiwis are small, flightless birds native to New Zealand, belonging to the genus Apteryx. They are about the size of a domestic chicken, and their adults usually weigh between 1.3 and 3.3 kilograms, depending on the species.
These birds have long, slender bills with nostrils at the tip, an unusual feature among birds, allowing them to detect insects and worms underground by smell. Another unique feature is that they have plumage resembling coarse hair. Due to this, they can camouflage themselves in their forest floor habitats.
Kiwis are nocturnal and have a highly developed sense of smell but relatively poor eyesight. Moreover, to keep them safe from extinction, conservation programs are in place. To protect from threats such as habitat destruction and predators.
5. Rhea
Rheas are large, flightless birds native to South America, primarily found in open grasslands and savannas. There are two species: the greater rhea and the lesser rhea.
The greater rheas can reach up to 1.5 meters in height and weigh around 20 to 27 kg. They have long legs and necks, with large wings that they use for balance and courtship displays.
Rheas are omnivorous, which means they feed on a mix of plants, seeds, fruits, and small animals. During the breeding season, males build nests and incubate eggs from multiple females, subsequently raising the chicks alone.
6. Macaroni Penguin
The macaroni penguin is a species of crested penguin known for its bright yellow-orange crest feathers. These feathers stick out from above their eyes like wild eyebrows. They live mostly on rocky, remote islands in the Southern Ocean, especially around Antarctica.
These penguins are excellent swimmers and can dive deep to catch food. Their diet includes krill, squid, and small fish. They get their name from 18th-century sailors who thought their yellow feathers looked like the "macaroni" fashion style in Europe.
Though they can't fly, their strong flippers help them glide powerfully underwater. Sadly, climate change and overfishing are threats to their survival.
7. Flightless Cormorant
The flightless cormorant, also known as the Galapagos cormorant, is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. It is unique among cormorants for its inability to fly. Many researchers also believe that it is the result of evolutionary adaptation to its environment.
These birds have small wings and dense bones, aiding in diving rather than flight. They are excellent swimmers because they use their powerful legs to propel themselves underwater.
Flightless cormorants have dark plumage and a hooked bill suited for catching slippery prey. Their limited range and small population make them vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities.
8. Kakapo
The kakapo, also known as the night parrot, is a nocturnal and flightless parrot endemic to New Zealand. It is the world’s only flightless parrot and the heaviest, with adults weighing between 2 and 4 kg. Kakapos have a distinctive moss-green plumage, providing excellent camouflage in their forest habitats.
They are herbivorous, feeding on a variety of native plants, seeds, and fruits. These birds are known for their unique breeding behavior, utilizing a lek mating system where males gather and compete for female attention through vocal displays.
However, due to habitat loss and introduced predators, kakapo populations declined dramatically. This number is now around 200, all thanks to the intensive conservation efforts.
9. Campbell Teal
The Campbell teal is a small, nocturnal, flightless duck living in Campbell Island, a part of New Zealand’s subantarctic region. This elusive bird has dark brown plumage and a distinctive green sheen on its head. It measures about 20 centimeters in length.
Once thought extinct due to introduced predators like rats, a small population was rediscovered on Dent Island in 1975. Conservationists then initiated successful breeding programs, and after eradicating rats, they reintroduced the teal in 2004.
Since then, the population has been steadily increasing. The Campbell teal's recovery is a testament to dedicated conservation efforts.
10. Inaccessible Island Rail
The Inaccessible Island rail holds the title of the world's smallest flightless bird. These birds are born on Inaccessible Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. They have a height of 15.5 centimeters and a weight of around 34.7 grams.
Its small size and flightlessness are adaptations to the island’s predator-free environment. The bird’s plumage is predominantly dark brown, which provides them with excellent camouflage.
Due to its remote habitat, the Inaccessible Island rail has limited exposure to human activity. This has helped it to preserve its population over the years.
11. Titicaca Grebe
The Titicaca grebe, also known as the short-winged grebe, is another bird species that cannot fly. They live around Lake Titicaca, which spans the border of Peru and Bolivia. This medium-sized grebe measures about 30 centimeters in length and has a distinctive chestnut neck and white underparts.
Its wings are too small for flight, but it is an adept swimmer and diver, feeding primarily on small fish. The species is threatened by habitat degradation, entanglement in fishing nets, and pollution.
Conservation efforts are underway to mitigate these threats. These include promoting sustainable fishing practices and protecting crucial habitats.
12. Guam Rail
The Guam rail, locally known as the “Ko'Ko", is a native of the island of Guam. It measures about 28 centimeters in length, has a brown back, gray underparts, and a distinctive white stripe above the eye.
The introduction of the brown tree snake to Guam led to the rail’s extinction in the wild by the late 1980s. However, with captive breeding, these birds were reintroduced on snake-free islands like Rota and Cocos.
These initiatives aim to establish self-sustaining populations and eventually reintroduce the species to its native habitat.
13. Kagu
The kagu is a rare, nearly flightless bird native to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. Measuring about 55 centimeters in length, it has bright red legs and a distinctive crest. The kagu is known for its unique nasal corns, structures that cover its nostrils, a feature not found in any other bird species.
It feeds on invertebrates, which it hunts by foraging through leaf litter on the forest floor. The species is, however, currently threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators like cats and dogs.
14. Dodo (Extinct)
It’s also important to discuss an extinct bird species that couldn't fly. One of them is the Dodo. It is probably the most famous extinct flightless bird in the world. It lived on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean and became extinct in the late 1600s.
The Dodo was about 3 feet tall and weighed around 15 to 20 kilograms. It couldn’t fly because it had small wings and no natural predators until humans and introduced animals like rats, pigs, and monkeys arrived.
It also laid only one egg at a time, which made population recovery difficult. The bird became a symbol of extinction caused by human activity.
Why Some Birds Can’t Fly: The Science Behind It
Not all birds are built to fly. While flying gives many birds the power to escape danger and travel fast, some birds lost this ability over time. But why?
The main reason is evolution. Birds that lived in places with no natural predators didn’t need to fly to survive. Over thousands of years, their bodies changed. Their wings got smaller, and their legs became stronger for walking or running.
These birds used their energy differently. Instead of flying, they adapted to life on the ground. Some, like penguins, became excellent swimmers, while others, like ostriches, became fast runners.
So, when asking “why some birds can’t fly,” the answer lies in how they evolved to fit their environments better.
Summing Up
So, now you know what birds can’t fly and the scientific reason behind it. These flightless birds are a fascinating reminder that nature doesn’t always follow the expected path. While they may not soar through the skies, their lives are filled with unique traits.
FAQs
1. Can flightless birds evolve to fly again?
It’s unlikely. Evolution doesn’t usually go backward. Once birds adapt to life without flight, their wings and muscles shrink. Re-evolving flight would require huge changes over many generations, which isn’t easy without a strong survival reason.
2. How many bird species can't fly?
About 60 known bird species can't fly. Most of them are native to isolated regions like New Zealand or islands with few predators. Over time, these birds evolved stronger legs and lost the need to fly for survival.
3. Are all large birds flightless?
No, not all large birds are flightless. Birds like albatrosses and eagles are large but fly well. However, very large birds like ostriches or emus are too heavy for flight. Size matters, but it’s not the only factor.
4. Do flightless birds still have wings?
Yes, most still have wings, but they’re small or weak. In birds like kiwis or cassowaries, wings are almost hidden. These birds use their legs more than their wings and have developed strong muscles for walking, running, or swimming instead.
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