Actually, this web site isn't just about bird flight! It's also about insect flight, and bats, and pterosaurs. We've included every group of flying animals. Check out our links to each of these flying creatures to learn more about them. You can even compare the wings of different kinds of animals to see the different ways they are adapted to flight. We also have some information on how birds fly, and some fun projects where you'll make your own flying models!

Two thirds of all living species use flapping-wing flight. It's everywhere in nature. If you've ever wondered how birds fly, you'll find the answers here. We even have an online store with bird flight books and flying models!

Also visit our related web site, The Ornithopter Zone. Ornithopters are machines designed to fly like birds, just by flapping their wings. You'll be surprised to learn of the amazing accomplishments in this field!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the largest bird that can fly?
A: The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan, at 3.4 meters. The kori bustard is the heaviest flying bird. It can weigh almost 20 kg. An extinct, vulture-like bird called the giant teratorn, Argentavis magnificens, weighed about 75 kg and had a wingspan of 8 meters!

Q: What limits the size of a bird?
A: The larger a bird is, the less power its muscles can produce, in relation to their weight. That's why larger birds have to work harder to take off, and one reason why birds aren't bigger. Also, if a really large bird spent a lot of time flapping its wings, it would need a huge amount of food. That's why most large birds use soaring flight most of the time.

Q: What's a pterosaur?
A: A pterosaur is what most people call a "pterodactyl". Scientists actually reserve the word "pterodactyl" for a particular group of pterosaurs.

Q: How do birds fly?
A: See the How Birds Fly pages for a simplified explanation. The books in our online store go into more detail.

Q: Can a machine, robot, or aircraft fly like a bird?
A: Yes. A machine that flies like a bird is called an "ornithopter". Visit The Ornithopter Zone for more info!