How do giant birds fly?

With a span of more than 6 meters, a vulture of the same size as a Cessna plane had to rely on a 60km / hour glide to fly on the Argentine plains 6 million years ago.

Scientists have long known that ancient birds can fly. But they are not sure whether Argentavis magnificens , the largest bird ever to be in the sky, flap its wings or simply glide.

Now, thanks to the bird bone-based computer models of the bird, scientists have revealed that just flapping the wings does not generate enough force to keep the 68 kg bird in the air. Instead, they must be hovering over the rising air from the ground.

The study was carried out by Sankar Chatterjee from Texas Tech University Museum, USA, and his colleagues. Like many land birds today, Argentavis may have jumped on such rising air, and helped them limit the flapping of wings.

Maximum size can fly

The world's largest bird flying ( Argentavis magnificens ) with wingspan of more than 6 meters must rely on the gas lift to glide over Argentina sky 6 million years ago. (Photo: LiveScience)

With the help of air lift, even if Argentavis is bigger, it will still be a professional glider. But no flying bird is found bigger than Argentavis , and scientists think they know why: "The only problem is how to lift yourself off the ground."

Taking off and landing is the most arduous task with large birds. This giant animal may have gained enough lift to fly up by running downhill or taking off from above a height, during the wind.

Even with these tips, according to scientists, Argentavis is still the maximum size to take off. Any bigger bird will only run on the ground.

"That's probably why we don't see any flying birds today that are the size of a passenger plane," Chatterjee said.

T. An