9 Largest Birds in North America: Endangered Species and Predators

The California condor is North America’s largest flying bird, with a wingspan stretching up to 10 ft (3 m). These New World vultures are critically endangered, with habitat loss and lead poisoning among the biggest threats.

Reintroduced to the wild in parts of California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California (Mexico), they can soar great distances in a single day. Despite their massive size, they weigh just around 20 lb (9 kg).

The trumpeter swan is the heaviest native bird in North America. Standing about 4 ft (1.2 m) tall and weighing up to 30 lb (13.6 kg), these birds are built for power. Their wingspan can reach about 8.5 ft (2.6 m), rivaling the condor.

They breed across northern North America and overwinter in wetlands and coastal regions.

Grus americana, the whooping crane, is one of the tallest flying birds in the world. Adults stand about 5 ft (1.5 m) tall and have a wingspan of 7.5 ft (2.3 m).

Once near extinction, their population is recovering thanks to conservation efforts. These big birds migrate between northern breeding grounds and southern wintering sites in North America.

With broad wings and a wingspan up to 9.5 feet (2.9 meters), the American white pelican is one of the largest seabirds in the world.

Unlike other pelican species that dive from the air, American white pelicans capture fish while swimming in groups. They breed in the interior and migrate to coastal and southern areas, covering great distances each season.

Golden eagles, or Aquila chrysaetos, are among the largest raptors in the world. They weigh up to 15 lb (6.8 kg) and have wingspans that reach 7.5 feet (2.3 meters).

These birds of prey are widely distributed across the western United States and northern parts of North America. With keen eyesight and powerful talons, they hunt mammals and other birds with precision.

As the national bird and symbol of the United States, the bald eagle is both majestic and massive. Adult males can have a wingspan up to 7.5 ft (2.3 m) and weigh about 10 lb (4.5 kg).

Found near bodies of water across northern North America, they feed mainly on fish. Despite their fame, bald eagles faced decline due to DDT and habitat loss before rebounding through protection.

Though not the heaviest bird, the great blue heron is one of the tallest. It stands over 4 ft (1.2 m) tall and has a wingspan around 6.5 ft (2 m).

Common in wetlands and coastal regions, this large bird uses its long legs and sharp beak to capture fish. They're among the most widely distributed birds in North America.

One of the biggest birds that spends most of its time on the ground, the wild turkey is a heavyweight. Adult males can weigh up to 24 lb (10.9 kg), with a body length of nearly 4 ft (1.2 m).

While not a high flyer, turkeys can fly short distances to escape predators. Native to southern Mexico and much of the U.S., they’re a familiar sight in forests and fields.

Though not found widely in North America, the harpy eagle ranges into southern Mexico, making it part of the region’s avian roster.

As one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world, it can weigh up to 20 lb (9 kg) and has a wingspan of 7 ft (2.1 m). These birds thrive in Central and South America, where they hunt monkeys and sloths from tall rainforest canopies.

Though mostly a resident of the Andes Mountains and not North America proper, the Andean condor is worth mentioning for its reach into northern South America. It has the longest wingspan of any raptor in the world: up to 10.5 ft (3.2 m).

These New World vultures ride thermal currents for hours without flapping, and are revered in many indigenous cultures.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.