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Homescience

Meet the sky kings: 10 birds with the largest wings in the world

From silent gliders to ocean wanderers, some birds command the skies with wings that defy belief. Discover the giants of the air and what makes their flight unlike anything else on Earth.

Sheetal Kumari | November 15, 2025 / 16:20 IST
1/10
Wandering Albatross: This giant of the ocean has wings reaching up to 3.7 meters. It can stay aloft for hours, not flapping but using strong sea winds to cover thousands of kilometres across the Southern Ocean. (Image: Canva)
Wandering Albatross: This giant of the ocean has wings reaching up to 3.7 meters. It can stay aloft for hours, not flapping but using strong sea winds to cover thousands of kilometres across the Southern Ocean. (Image: Canva)
2/10
Southern Royal Albatross: With wings up to almost 3.5 meters, this graceful albatross soars above the Southern Ocean. Its long, powerful wings help it cover enormous distances while searching for squid and fish. (Image; Canva)
Southern Royal Albatross: With wings up to almost 3.5 meters, this graceful albatross soars above the Southern Ocean. Its long, powerful wings help it cover enormous distances while searching for squid and fish. (Image; Canva)
3/10
Dalmatian Pelican: This huge pelican spreads wings of about 3.2 metres. Its broad silvery feathers lift its heavy body effortlessly as it glides across wetlands, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. (Image: Canva)
Dalmatian Pelican: This huge pelican spreads wings of about 3.2 metres. Its broad silvery feathers lift its heavy body effortlessly as it glides across wetlands, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. (Image: Canva)
4/10
Great White Pelican: Its wide wings stretch up to 3.6 meters, enabling it to rise effortlessly with the thermals. The bird travels in large flocks, gliding gracefully and hunting waters rich with fish. (Image: Canva)
Great White Pelican: Its wide wings stretch up to 3.6 meters, enabling it to rise effortlessly with the thermals. The bird travels in large flocks, gliding gracefully and hunting waters rich with fish. (Image: Canva)
5/10
Andean Condor: The Andean Condor is a great glider with its wingspan of approximately 3.3 metres, soaring over the Andes on mountain thermals for great distances with minimum effort. (Image: Canva)
Andean Condor: The Andean Condor is a great glider with its wingspan of approximately 3.3 metres, soaring over the Andes on mountain thermals for great distances with minimum effort. (Image: Canva)
6/10
Marabou Stork: Its wings spread nearly 3.2 meters and help this tall stork soar surprisingly well. Though it looks quite unusual, it is an important scavenger throughout African savannas and wetlands. (Image: Canva)
Marabou Stork: Its wings spread nearly 3.2 meters and help this tall stork soar surprisingly well. Though it looks quite unusual, it is an important scavenger throughout African savannas and wetlands. (Image: Canva)
7/10
Tristan Albatross: This rare seabird carries wings reaching about 3.5 metres. It spends years roaming remote oceans, gliding endlessly over waves before returning to distant Atlantic islands to breed. (Image: Canva)
Tristan Albatross: This rare seabird carries wings reaching about 3.5 metres. It spends years roaming remote oceans, gliding endlessly over waves before returning to distant Atlantic islands to breed. (Image: Canva)
8/10
Northern Royal Albatross : This albatross, with its wings reaching almost 3.2 metres, soars across the Pacific. It may cover thousands of kilometres on a foraging trip, feeding on fish and squid, but comes ashore primarily in New Zealand to breed. (Image: Canva)
Northern Royal Albatross: This albatross, with its wings reaching almost 3.2 metres, soars across the Pacific. It may cover thousands of kilometres on a foraging trip, feeding on fish and squid, but comes ashore primarily in New Zealand to breed. (Image: Canva)
9/10
American White Pelican: Its wings reach nearly 3 meters, giving it a slow, powerful flight over lakes and wetlands; it migrates long distances in elegant formations across North America. (Image: Canva)
American White Pelican: Its wings reach nearly 3 meters, giving it a slow, powerful flight over lakes and wetlands; it migrates long distances in elegant formations across North America. (Image: Canva)
10/10
Shoebill Stork: The shoebill has a wingspan of about 2.7 metres, enabling it to fly low, powerfully, and steadily over swampy African habitats. Its broad wings support its heavy frame as it moves silently through wetlands. (Image: Canva)
Shoebill Stork: The shoebill has a wingspan of about 2.7 metres, enabling it to fly low, powerfully, and steadily over swampy African habitats. Its broad wings support its heavy frame as it moves silently through wetlands. (Image: Canva)

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