8 Birds That Can’t Fly

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Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="Eldridge, Alison" data-authors-initial="Eldridge, A." data-title="8 Birds That Can’t Fly" data-published-date="3 Dec. 2013" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/list/8-birds-that-cant-fly" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="8 Birds That Can’t Fly" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/list/8-birds-that-cant-fly" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/list/8-birds-that-cant-fly">https://www.britannica.com/list/8-birds-that-cant-fly</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing font-14"> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Alison-Eldridge/7869468" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Alison Eldridge</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Alison Eldridge was Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Alison Eldridge</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div> </div> <article class="topic-content content"><div class="topic-paragraph font-serif md-list-intro pt-15 pb-20"><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/7122-131-7F298ADF/cassowary.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*0"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/7122-131-7F298ADF/cassowary.jpg?w=1000" alt="Common, or southern, cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)." data-width="900" data-height="675" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Anthony Mercieca—Root Resources/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Have you ever wished you were an eagle, soaring high above the prairie? How about the mythical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/phoenix-mythological-bird" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">phoenix</a>, rising from the ashes? For centuries people have wistfully watched birds take wing and felt a bit jealous. But what about birds that don’t fly? You’d think they’d hold a grudge against their freewheeling cousins, but these guys are just as awesome in their own right. These eight birds can’t fly, but you should probably envy them anyway.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><ul class="md-list-order-reverse md-mendel-list" style="counter-reset: item 9"><li><h2> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/penguin" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Penguin</a> </h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/153473-050-3463E76F/Emperor-penguins-Antarctica.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*162465"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/153473-050-3463E76F/Emperor-penguins-Antarctica.jpg?w=1000" alt="Emperor penguins in Antarctica (arctic animal; arctic bird; penguin)" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/153473-050-3463E76F/Emperor-penguins-Antarctica.jpg" data-href="*162465">emperor penguins (<em>Aptenodytes forsteri</em>)</a><span>Emperor penguins (<em>Aptenodytes forsteri</em>) in Antarctica.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Bernard Breton/Fotolia</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">No list of flightless birds would be complete without the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/penguin" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">penguin</a>. All 18 species of penguin are unable to fly, and are in fact better built for swimming and diving, which they spend the majority of their time doing. Their short legs and stocky build give them a distinctive waddling walk. While people tend to associate penguins with Antarctica, most species live in higher latitudes. A few even live in temperate climates, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/Galapagos-penguin" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Galapagos penguin</a> actually lives at the Equator. These birds are also remarkably romantic—penguins are largely monogamous and seek out the same mates each season, even among the hundreds or even thousands of birds that might live in their colony.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-1"></span></li><li><h2> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/steamer-duck" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Steamer duck</a> </h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/137419-050-E135E81E/Steamer-duck.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*140209"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/137419-050-E135E81E/Steamer-duck.jpg?w=1000" alt="Steamer duck (Tachyeres)." data-width="800" data-height="575" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/137419-050-E135E81E/Steamer-duck.jpg" data-href="*140209">steamer duck</a><span>Steamer duck (<em>Tachyeres</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Leksele/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Three out of four species of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/steamer-duck" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">steamer duck</a> are flightless, but four out of four species should not be messed with. Even within the flighted species, some males are too heavy to actually achieve liftoff. These South American ducks earned their name by running across water and thrashing their wings like the wheels on a steamboat. They use them for other forms of thrashing, too. Famously aggressive, steamer ducks are known to engage in epic, bloody battles with each other over territory disputes. They have even been known to kill waterbirds several times their size.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-2"></span></li><li><h2>Weka</h2><div><p class="topic-paragraph">The weka is another bird of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Zealand/Soils#ref478740" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New Zealand</a>. This brown, chicken-sized bird was an important resource for native New Zealanders and European settlers, but is now decreasing in number. While they may look unremarkable, weka have a loud call that males and females sing as a duet. They’re also known as clever thieves and will steal food and small objects to their liking and make off with them. Weka are skilled swimmers, too.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-3"></span></li><li><h2> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/ostrich" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ostrich</a> </h2><div><p class="topic-paragraph">The mighty <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/ostrich" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ostrich</a> is truly the king of birds. The largest living bird, ostriches can grow up to 9 feet tall and weigh more than 300 pounds. Their eggs, fittingly, are also the world’s largest—about 5 inches in diameter and 3 pounds in weight. Their powerful legs can kick in defense, and they can run at speeds up to 45 miles per hour across the open lands of Africa, where they live. And if that’s not enough, they have long, luxurious eyelashes, to boot.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-4"></span></li><li><h2> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/kiwi-bird" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kiwi</a> </h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/75125-050-A249D2F3/symbol-New-Zealand.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*172335"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/75125-050-A249D2F3/symbol-New-Zealand.jpg?w=1000" alt="North Island brown kiwi bird forages for food at night in a forest in New Zealand." data-width="1600" data-height="1066" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/75125-050-A249D2F3/symbol-New-Zealand.jpg" data-href="*172335">kiwi</a><span>The kiwi is the national symbol of New Zealand. </span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Awcnz62/Dreamstime.com</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">There are five species of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/kiwi-bird" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">kiwi</a>, brown chicken-sized birds that are found in New Zealand. They have hidden vestigial wings and soft, hairlike feathers. Unlike other birds, kiwis have their nostrils on the tip of their bills, instead of at the base. These odd little birds are worth admiring, though—the females lay eggs that can be up to 1 pound in weight. Relative to the size of the bird, this is the biggest egg of any living species.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-5"></span></li><li><h2> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/kakapo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kakapo</a> </h2><div><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/kakapo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">kakapo</a>, also known as an “owl parrot” is also a native of New Zealand. This nocturnal parrot has an owl’s face, penguin’s stance, and duck’s gait. It is truly a strange bird—but also a beautiful one, with bright green-brown feathers. It can grow up to 2 feet in length, and is the world’s heaviest parrot. The males make a distinctive booming call that sounds like a one-bird jug band, which can be heard up to half a mile away! </p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-6"></span></li><li><h2> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/takahe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Takahe</a> </h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/4565-004-6A988E27/Takahe.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*7682"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/4565-004-6A988E27/Takahe.jpg?w=1000" alt="Takahe (Notornis mantelli)" data-width="362" data-height="300" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/4565-004-6A988E27/Takahe.jpg" data-href="*7682">Takahe (<em>Notornis mantelli</em>)</a></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">G.R. Roberts</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">This mid-size bird of New Zealand is a hide-and-seek master. It was thought to be extinct from the late 1800s until it was suddenly rediscovered in 1948. It’s a colorful character, too, with bright blue and green plumage and a red bill. And for a bird, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/takahe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">takahe</a> has remarkable longevity—it can live up to 20 years.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-7"></span></li><li><h2> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/cassowary" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cassowary</a> </h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/138843-050-DD4F15FF/cassowary.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*143153"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/138843-050-DD4F15FF/cassowary.jpg?w=1000" alt="The cassowary (genus Casuarius)" data-width="1415" data-height="1600" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/138843-050-DD4F15FF/cassowary.jpg" data-href="*143153">southern cassowary</a><span>Southern cassowary (<em>Casuarius casuarius</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Javarman/stock.adobe.com</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/cassowary" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cassowary</a> is a bird you don’t want to mess with. This giant bird, a native of Australia and the surrounding islands, is in the heavyweight class. The only bird heavier is the ostrich. As if that isn’t enough, the cassowary sports a wicked daggerlike claw that can grow up to 4 inches long on the middle toe of each foot —and they’ve been known to kill humans. If deadly power isn’t your thing, though, you can still admire the cassowary’s style. These birds sport colorful helmets, or casques, made of keratin (like human fingernails). And their plush back feathers kind of look like glamorous fur capes.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-8"></span></li></ul><span class="AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline"></span></article> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="cm-rightrail d-none d-md-block ad-rail"></aside> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col"> <div class="md-loading hidden display-4 font-weight-normal"></div> <div class="text-center my-20 mb-100"> <button class="md-infinite-load-next btn btn-blue" data-value="next-page">Load More</button> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-da-320 hidden-xs"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"List","templateName":null,"pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":11,"pageId":3768,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.48"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/list-page.js?v=3.133.48' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"List","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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8 Birds That Can’t Fly | Britannica