A List of Flightless Birds

Birds are usually associated with flying, however, not all birds fly. In fact, there are at least 40 different species of birds that are unable to flap their wings and fly. Some say that the birds were not sought as prey for long periods of time, and they eventually lost their flying capabilities through evolution.

Penguin

Penguins enjoy a diet that mainly consist of fish and squid. In order to catch their prey penguins have to develop a knack for swimming quickly underneath the water. Penguins swim a lot. In fact, they spend 50% of their time swimming.

Ostrich

The large bird is one of the fastest land animals in the world. They are proven to be the quickest bird species. Ostriches can run in excess of 40 miles an hour, but they can’t fly.

Emu

This bird is related to the ostrich and flying does not run in the family. Emu live mainly in Australia. These birds can grow to heights of 6 feet when they reach full maturity. While emus are quick, they can only reach about half the speed of their relative ostrich.

Kiwi

These birds get about as big as chickens. The kiwi lays incredibly large eggs in comparison to the size of its body. There are a handful of kiwi species in the world, but the bird is becoming extinct. Because humans continue to chop down forests at an alarming rate, the bird has lost a lot of its natural habitat. Kiwis are usually brown in color and lack the ability to fly.