List of birds by flight heights

Common cranes flying

Migratory birds and birds of prey can reach substantial heights while flying. This list gives the highest recorded flights for various species (limited to observations of 4,500 metres/15,000 feet and above).

Birds by flight height

Bird Image Species Family Flight height
Rüppell's vulture Gyps rueppellii Accipitridae Rüppell's vulture has been found at heights up to 11,300 metres (37,000 feet).[1][2] Vultures use their excellent eyesight to scan the landscape below from a relatively static aerial position. Instead of flying over a larger distance, they use elevation to expand their field of vision. If they spot a meal down below, the climb has an immediate payoff.
Common crane Grus grus Gruidae The common crane has been recorded flying across the Himalayas at heights up to 10,000 metres (33,000 feet).[2] This great height allows them to avoid eagles in the mountain passes.[2]
Bar-headed goose Anser indicus Anatidae The bar-headed goose can reach 8,800 metres (29,000 feet).[2][3][4] They also fly over the peaks of the Himalayas on their migratory path.[3]
Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus Anatidae A flock of whooper swans was recorded by radar flying at 8,200 metres (27,000 feet) over Northern Ireland.[2][4]
Alpine chough Pyrrhocorax graculus Corvidae The alpine chough has been seen at heights of 8,000 metres (26,500 feet) on Mount Everest.[4]
Bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus Accipitridae The bearded vulture has been recorded at heights up to 7,300 metres (24,000 feet).[1]
Andean condor Vultur gryphus Cathartidae The Andean condor can soar up to 6,500 metres (21,300 feet).[5]
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Anatidae The mallard has been found at heights up to 6,400 metres (21,000 feet) over Nevada.[1][3][4]
Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica Scolopacidae The bar-tailed godwit can reach 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) while migrating.[4][6]
White stork Ciconia ciconia Ciconiidae The white stork can reach 4,800 metres (16,000 feet) while migrating.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Laybourne, Roxie C. (December 1974). "Collision between a Vulture and an Aircraft at an Altitude of 37,000 Feet". The Wilson Bulletin. Wilson Ornithological Society. 86 (4): 461–462. ISSN 0043-5643. JSTOR 4160546. OCLC 46381512.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Carwardine, Mark (2008). Animal Records. Sterling. p. 124. ISBN 1402756232.
  3. 1 2 3 Lincoln, Frederick C. (1999). Migration of Birds. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p. 30. ISBN 0160617014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Whiteman, Lily (2000). "The High Life". Audubon. 102 (6): 104–108. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Gargiulo, Carolina Natalia (2012). Distribución y situación actual del cóndor andino (Vultur gryphus) en las sierras centrales de Argentina (PDF) (Thesis). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  6. 1 2 Elphick, Jonathan (2007). The Atlas of Bird Migration: Tracing the Great Journeys of the World's Birds. Struik. p. 23. ISBN 1770074996.
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