Latest news with #flightlessBirds
Forbes
4 days ago
- General
- Forbes
A Biologist Spotlights The World's Most Aggressive Bird. Hint: It's Flightless, It's Not The Ostrich, And It's Been Known To Kill People
In the case of flightless birds, the biggest isn't always the most terrifying. It is the ... More third-biggest flightless bird that you really need to be wary of. When we think of flightless birds, aggressive is probably not the word that comes to mind. We might think of a peacock calmly roaming the perimeter of a zoo (peacocks, however, aren't true flightless birds – they are capable of flying for short distances). We might think of the unfortunate dodo of Mauritius. This was a bird so docile and unafraid of environmental threats it was hunted out of existence in less than 100 years. Or, we might think of the ostrich. The ostrich, the world's biggest flightless bird, does pose some threat to humans. There are documented cases of people being kicked by the ostrich's powerful legs, resulting in serious injuries. But the bird we really need to be careful around – assuming you live in northern Australia or the New Guinea region – is the cassowary. Here's its story and why it can be so dangerous to humans. A southern cassowary strides through the dense rainforest of Queensland, Australia. The cassowary is a bird that looks like it stepped out of the Cretaceous period. Standing up to six feet tall and weighing as much as 130 pounds, it is undoubtedly an imposing figure. Its glossy black feathers resemble a coarse cloak. On top of its head rests a helmet-like casque – a keratin structure whose exact function remains debated. Some biologists suggest it helps with navigating dense forest or amplifies the cassowary's deep, rumbling calls. Cassowaries are notoriously territorial, especially the females, who are larger and more aggressive than the males. They defend their domain fiercely and are not afraid to charge when they feel threatened. The real danger lies in their legs. Each foot has three toes, the inner one armed with a dagger-like claw up to five inches long. These claws aren't just for show, they are powerful weapons, capable of inflicting deep gashes or even fatal injuries. There are numerous documented cases of cassowaries attacking humans. The most infamous incident occurred in 1926, when a 16-year-old boy was reportedly killed by a cassowary after attempting to club it. While fatal encounters are exceedingly rare, serious injuries are not. In Australia, wildlife officers have had to develop protocols for safely managing these birds, particularly in areas where humans and cassowaries frequently cross paths. (Sidebar: While few birds rival the cassowary's power on land, one rules the skies. Meet the world's strongest flying bird – it can, and does, attack humans too.) It's not just aggression that makes cassowaries stand out. It also their speed and agility. These birds can sprint up to 30 miles per hour and leap five feet into the air. They can swim well too, making them even more formidable in their dense rainforest habitat. Cassowaries are highly territorial birds and will fiercely defend their range from intruders. Why are they so aggressive? One theory points to their solitary nature and high parental investment. Female cassowaries lay eggs, but it's the male who incubates them and raises the chicks alone. This solitary, protective behavior can translate into aggression when the bird feels cornered or surprised. In areas where cassowaries come into contact with humans – like trails, suburban edges or tourist sites – conflict can escalate quickly. Conservationists stress that cassowaries are not villains. Their aggression is a natural defense mechanism. Furthermore, these birds play a critical role in their ecosystems by dispersing seeds of the plants they consume. Without cassowaries, some plant species might struggle to survive. Respect, not fear, is the key. Keeping a safe distance and avoiding feeding or provoking them helps ensure peaceful coexistence. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.
Forbes
10-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
A Biologist Reveals The Tallest Bird Species Ever Known. Hint: It Was The Only True ‘Wingless' Bird And Roamed The Earth Until 1400 A.D.
The ostrich is the tallest bird that inhabits the planet today, but fossil evidence suggests that ... More birds used to be much bigger. Here's the bird scientists think was the tallest of them all. When you think of birds, your mind immediately goes to the sky. But not all birds fly. Consider the emperor penguin. Scientists estimate that emperor penguins lost their ability to fly about 60 million years ago. The reason is straightforward: evolution pushed them in the direction of becoming sleek swimmers instead of aerial maneuverers. The process of evolution caused many birds to trade flight for a different physique – one that was better optimized to meet the challenges of their environment. The ostrich, for instance, traded its ability to fly for a bigger size (yes, flight becomes more challenging the heavier a species becomes). This evolutionary pathway produced a large, ground-dwelling species well-adapted to the open landscapes of the African plains. And, what the ostrich gave up in terms of flight speed, it got back by becoming a long-legged, fast runner (ostriches have been known to run at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour). Often, when birds give up their ability to fly, it is for one of these two reasons – either to become better swimmers, as in the case of emperor penguins, or to increase their size, as with the ostrich. So, when searching for the largest bird of all time, it makes sense to look in the realm of flightless birds. And that is exactly where we find our winner: the South Island giant moa of New Zealand. Here is its evolutionary story, from genesis to extinction. Although many flightless birds have emerged across the globe at different times in our evolutionary past, few rival the South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus) in sheer scale. Towering at up to 12-13 feet tall when stretching its long neck upright, and weighing as much as 600 pounds, this massive, herbivorous bird dominated the forest floors of New Zealand until its extinction around 1450 A.D. Unlike ostriches or emus, which still have visible wings (albeit useless for flight), the moa was entirely wingless – lacking even the vestigial bones that typically hint at avian ancestors' flying past. This makes the moa one of the only known birds to have evolved into a truly wingless form. In the absence of native land mammals, many of New Zealand's birds — like the moa and kiwi pictured ... More here — evolved unique traits to occupy ecological roles typically filled by mammals elsewhere. The moa's evolutionary journey began tens of millions of years ago, when its ancestors arrived in New Zealand, likely by flying or rafting over when the landmass was still closer to other southern continents. Once isolated, the birds faced a unique environment: New Zealand had no native land mammals (except for a few species of bats), which allowed birds to fill ecological roles typically occupied by ground-dwelling mammals in other parts of the world. In the absence of large predators, size became an advantage, not a liability. Over time, some moa species evolved into true giants. The South Island giant moa roamed grasslands and forested valleys, grazing on tough plant material such as ferns, shrubs, and leaves from high branches – reaching food sources that few other animals could. Its long legs and flexible neck gave it the ability to browse at multiple heights, not unlike a modern giraffe. The only known predator of adult moa was the Haast's eagle, another New Zealand native and the largest eagle species ever known. Even so, adult moas were difficult to bring down. It was only when humans arrived – specifically, the Māori people around the late 13th century – that the fate of the giant moa was sealed. With no fear of humans and no evolutionary defenses against hunting, moa populations quickly declined under intense pressure from overhunting and habitat destruction. Within just a couple of centuries of human arrival, the South Island giant moa, along with all nine species of moa, was gone. (Sidebar: As tragic as our role was in driving the giant moa to extinction, perhaps the most lamentable form of human-caused extinction is when species are hunted into oblivion for the sake of fashion — see here to learn how this trend ties into the most valuable package lost aboard the Titanic.) What makes the moa particularly fascinating is not just its size, but its stark deviation from what we typically think of as "bird-like" traits. It couldn't fly, it didn't have wings, and it occupied a role in the ecosystem more akin to a browsing mammal than a feathered flyer. In many ways, the moa was more like a feathered dinosaur than a modern bird – an evolutionary echo of ancient times. Today, the legacy of the giant moa endures through its fossilized bones and the stories preserved in Māori oral tradition. Does thinking about the extinction of a species instantly change your mood? Take the Connectedness to Nature Scale to see where you stand on this unique personality dimension.
