Nature is unbelievably diverse and resilient. Where humans reached only decades ago (and perhaps have not yet reached), nature has existed for centuries. The survival mechanisms that evolution invents are astounding—there’s no end to the creative ways nature finds to sustain life. Today, we present the TOP highest-flying birds. It’s simply amazing how ordinary, beautiful birds that we all know can reach such heights! Get ready to be amazed!
1 African Vulture – 12,150 m 
African vultures are natural fliers. Their wingspan is 2,018 cm, and they fly at speeds up to 65 km/h. There is evidence that one of these birds was spotted at an altitude of 12,500 meters from a passing airplane, although, to be fair, this species can easily be confused with other types of “flyers,” including the second entry on our list.
2 Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture – 11,277 m 
In general, it’s unknown how high Rüppell’s Griffon Vultures can fly, but they are aided by modified hemoglobin. However, one of these birds collided with an airplane at an altitude of 11,277 meters, earning vultures the title of the highest-flying birds.
3 Bar-headed Goose – 10,175 m 
The Bar-headed Goose flies where even helicopters can’t go. While migrating, it easily crosses the Himalayas. This bird is not only famous for its flying abilities but also for its excellent walking, as it prefers to spend time on land.
4 Common Crane – 10,000 m 
The Common Crane is a migratory bird, and it crosses the Himalayas during its migrations. It was here that one of the most resilient cranes was spotted at an altitude of 10,000 meters. By the way, one species of crane, the Australian crane, is also one of the highest-flying birds. The record is a bit different, but it’s still impressive.
5 Whooper Swan – 8,230 m 
Whooper Swans are large and strong birds that, nevertheless, are capable of flying high and long distances. The record for their flight height was recorded in the late 1970s over Europe.
6 Alpine Chough – 8,200 m 
This bird, along with its relative, the Red-billed Chough, is also the highest-living vertebrate species. The choughs build their nests at an altitude of 6,500 m, and once, a group of tourists observed a flock of these birds at 8,200 m. Like crows, these choughs have taken a liking to human food, which helps them survive in winter.
7 Bearded Vulture – 7,300 m 
The Bearded Vulture, or Lammergeier, is a predator that can feed in a very interesting way. It lifts a favored tortoise—or in its absence, a bone—high into the air and drops it onto rocks. The leftovers are eagerly consumed. Naturally, in the mountains, climbing higher means “climbing very high.” One such bird was spotted at an altitude of 7,300 m, securing it the 7th spot on our list of highest-flying birds.
8 Mallard Duck – 6,900 m 
The familiar mallard duck, which often barely manages to lift off from well-fed city ponds, is actually quite the flyer. An American pilot encountered one such duck over the Texas plains at an altitude of 6,900 m. Of course, these birds don’t usually fly that high.
9 Andean Condor – 5,000 m 
The largest wingspan in the world allows the Andean Condor to rise high, despite its impressive weight—up to 15 kg. At maximum altitude, the bird spots its prey and plummets down like a stone onto the unsuspecting victim. However, even with this weight, the condor can’t carry off a small child—it simply wouldn’t be able to grab it.
10 Golden Eagle – 4,500 m 
Golden eagles are also quite the birds. These predators hunt in pairs, and their sharp eyes can spot large rodents from a height of 2 kilometers. However, seemingly for fun, golden eagles fly much higher. This usually happens in the summer, while in winter, the birds fly lower and try to relocate to warmer mountain valleys.
