The California condor is North America’s largest bird, with a wingspan exceeding 3 meters (9.8 feet). The whooping crane is the tallest, reaching a standing height of up to 1.6 meters (5.2 feet), while the trumpeter swan is the heaviest, with some males weighing as much as 17.2 kilograms (37.9 pounds) and wingspans occasionally rivaling those of the condor.
In this article, we explore the largest birds found across North America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of Central America and the Caribbean. We focus on the maximum verified measurements recorded in the wild, highlighting species that are native to the region. As always at Planet of Birds, we go beyond the numbers to consider each bird’s ecology, adaptations, and survival in a changing world.
California condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
- Wingspan: As wide as 3.05 m (10 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 14 kg (30.9 lb).
- Body length: Up to 1.4 m (4.6 ft).
- Where found: Southwestern United States and Baja California, Mexico – cliffs, forests, and scrublands.
- Conservation status: Critically Endangered.

The California condor is the largest land bird in North America, boasting the most consistently wide wingspan of any species on the continent, regularly reaching up to 3.05 meters (10 feet). Individuals can weigh as heavy as 14 kilograms (30.9 pounds) and reach a body length of 1.4 meters (4.6 feet), making the condor one of the biggest-bodied and heaviest land birds in North America.
Their broad, fingered wings allow them to soar effortlessly on thermals for hours, often covering hundreds of kilometers in a single day while searching for carrion. While it may be considered one of the ugliest birds out there due to its bald head and wrinkled skin, these features serve an important purpose – helping maintain hygiene during feeding, a trait shared with many large scavengers.
Once widespread across much of North America, the species suffered a catastrophic decline in the 20th century, leading to its extinction in the wild by 1987. A bold captive breeding program launched at that time has since enabled reintroduction across California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California. As of 2025, the total population had grown to 566 individuals, with 369 living in the wild.
Despite this recovery, the California condor remains one of the world’s rarest and most threatened birds, heavily reliant on human intervention. Lead poisoning from ammunition fragments is the leading cause of mortality, while ingestion of microtrash, collisions with power lines, and emerging diseases like avian influenza further threaten their survival. While wild breeding has resumed and range expansion continues, the species has not yet formed a self-sustaining wild population.
Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator)
- Wingspan: As wide as 3.1 m (10.2 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 17.2 kg (37.9 lb).
- Body length: Up to 1.83 m (6.0 ft).
- Where found: Northern and central North America – lakes, ponds, wetlands.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The trumpeter swan is the heaviest native bird in North America, with the largest recorded male weighing an extraordinary 17.2 kilograms (37.9 pounds). Individuals can reach a body length of 1.83 meters (6 feet) and a wingspan as wide as 3.1 meters (10.2 feet), occasionally exceeding even the California condor. However, such outsized individuals are rare, and average wingspan and weight are typically lower, which places the swan slightly below the condor in overall size rankings.
The species remains the largest North American waterfowl and the biggest wild waterfowl ever reliably documented. Although heavier mute swans (Cygnus olor) have been reported, those individuals were either captive or possibly flightless. The trumpeter swan’s sheer size is matched by its strength in flight – despite its bulk, it migrates long distances and takes off from water with powerful, steady wingbeats.
Historically widespread across the continent, trumpeter swans were nearly driven to extinction by overhunting and habitat loss in the 19th and early 20th centuries. By the 1930s, only a few dozen individuals remained in the wild. Through long-term protection, reintroduction programs, and wetland restoration, the species has staged a dramatic comeback.
Today, over 76,000 birds are found across three main populations – Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountain, and Interior, many of which are migratory. Annual growth since the 1960s has averaged more than 6%, and large-scale surveys continue to track population health. Though not without management challenges, the trumpeter swan’s recovery stands as one of the most successful avian conservation stories in North America.
Whooping crane (Grus americana)
- Wingspan: As wide as 2.3 m (7.5 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 8.5 kg (18.7 lb).
- Height: As tall as 1.6 m (5.2 ft).
- Where found: Canada to southern U.S. – wetlands, grasslands, coastal marshes.
- Conservation status: Endangered.

The whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America, reaching a standing height of up to 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) and a wingspan of 2.3 meters (7.5 feet). Adult birds may weigh as much as 8.5 kilograms (18.7 pounds), making them among the heaviest cranes in the world.
These long-legged wetland specialists are built for slow, majestic flight and are known for their resonant whooping calls that carry over great distances. With their snow-white plumage, black wingtips, and red facial skin, they are also among the most visually striking birds on the continent.
Once reduced to just 15 wild individuals in the 1930s, the whooping crane has slowly rebounded thanks to decades of conservation work. The only natural population breeds in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park and migrates over 4,000 kilometers to winter on the Gulf Coast of Texas. As of the 2020s, this migratory flock numbers over 500 birds. Reintroduction programs in the eastern U.S. and Louisiana have met with mixed results, and the total global population, wild and captive, hovers around 900 individuals.
Although numbers have increased, whooping cranes remain extremely vulnerable: power line collisions, habitat loss, drought, and genetic bottlenecks continue to threaten their future. As one of the most imperiled bird species in North America, they also stand out for forming lifelong pair bonds, strengthening year after year through elaborate courtship displays and joint parental care – behaviors critical to their survival but difficult to replicate in managed populations.
American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- Wingspan: As wide as 3.0 m (9.8 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 13.6 kg (30.0 lb).
- Body length: Up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft).
- Where found: Inland North America – lakes, marshes, and estuaries; winters along coasts to Central America.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The American white pelican boasts one of the widest wingspans of any North American bird, reaching up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) and rivaling the California condor. Exceptionally large individuals have been recorded at up to 13.6 kilograms (30 pounds) in weight and 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) in length.
Despite its bulk, it is a strong flier and glider, often soaring in graceful flocks high above the landscape. The enormous bill, complete with a seasonal nuptial horn in breeding males, makes it one of the most distinctive waterbirds on the continent, and at up to 38.6 centimeters (15.2 inches), it is the longest beak found in North America.
American white pelicans nest in large, dense colonies in the interior of Canada and the northern United States, with major breeding sites in the Great Salt Lake and along the Slave River. After the breeding season, they migrate south to winter along the Pacific and Gulf coasts, ranging as far as Costa Rica. They avoid open ocean, instead favoring sheltered bays, estuaries, and inland lakes.
The species has recovered well from earlier declines, and its population trend remains stable or increasing. Occasionally, individuals are seen well outside their normal range, particularly after storms, with confirmed vagrants reaching the Caribbean and even northern South America.
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
- Wingspan: As wide as 2.55 m (8.4 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 7.7 kg (17.0 lb).
- Body length: Up to 1.02 m (3.3 ft).
- Where found: Western and northern North America – open country, mountains, tundra.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The golden eagle is North America’s largest eagle, with wingspans reaching up to 2.55 meters (8.4 feet) and body lengths just over 1 meter (3.3 feet). While individuals in North America tend to be slightly smaller than their Eurasian counterparts, the heaviest known wild golden eagle – a massive female, was banded and released in 2006 near Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest, weighing an impressive 7.7 kilograms (17.0 pounds).
Golden eagles are widely distributed across the western United States, Canada, and Alaska, favoring open habitats such as grasslands, deserts, and alpine tundra. Most North American populations are resident, though some northern birds migrate south in winter.
These large powerful raptors are built for soaring over open landscapes and mountainous terrain, with broad wings and a commanding presence in flight. They hunt a wide range of prey, including mammals up to the size of jackrabbits and marmots, and will also scavenge when necessary. Nests are built on cliffs or tall trees and are reused and expanded year after year, sometimes reaching over two meters across.
Thanks to a large range and stable population, the golden eagle is not currently considered threatened in North America, although it remains vulnerable to habitat disturbance, energy infrastructure, and poisoning from lead ingestion.
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Wingspan: As wide as 2.44 m (8.0 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 7.0 kg (15.4 lb).
- Body length: Up to 1.02 m (3.3 ft).
- Where found: Throughout North America – near lakes, rivers, coastal habitats.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States and one of North America’s most iconic raptors. An adult can reach a body length of 1.02 meters (3.3 feet) and a wingspan of up to 2.44 meters (8.0 feet), with individuals in Alaska known to surpass 7 kilograms (15.4 pounds) in weight. Though slightly smaller on average than the golden eagle, the largest bald eagles can rival or exceed them in mass.
Bald eagles are found throughout most of North America, from the bayous of Louisiana to the fjords of Alaska. They prefer habitats near large bodies of water, nesting in tall trees or on cliffs close to lakes, rivers, or coasts. Their striking white head and tail, paired with a powerful yellow bill and immense wings, make them instantly recognizable in flight or perched along shorelines.
Their nests are among the largest of any bird, with records of structures measuring almost 3 meters (9.8 feet) wide and over 6 meters (20 feet) deep. Known to mate for life, bald eagle pairs often reuse and expand the same nest year after year. These long-lived raptors are primarily fish eaters but readily scavenge and will hunt birds or small mammals when necessary.
Once severely reduced by pesticide use and habitat loss, the species has made a remarkable recovery in recent decades and is now thriving across its historic range.
Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria)
- Wingspan: As wide as 2.8 m (9.2 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 9 kg (19.8 lb).
- Height: As tall as 1.53 m (5 ft).
- Where found: Southern Mexico and Central America – wetlands, riverbanks, ponds, and seasonally flooded areas.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The jabiru is the largest stork species in the Americas, reaching heights of up to 1.53 meters (5 feet) and a wingspan nearing 2.8 meters (9.2 feet), rivalling that of some of the largest flying birds in the world. Its massive black beak, bare featherless neck, and stark white body give it a striking and somewhat unsettling appearance – features that earn it a place among the strangest-looking birds in the region. Despite its size and awkward gait on land, the jabiru is a strong and elegant flier, gliding gracefully over open wetlands.
The jabiru is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics, from southern Mexico and Central America to much of South America east of the Andes. Although rare in the United States, occasional vagrants have been recorded as far north as Texas. It typically lives in small colonies or loose flocks near rivers, lagoons, and flooded savannas, where it wades through shallow water in search of fish, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, and carrion. During droughts, jabirus often scavenge on dead fish, playing a role in maintaining water quality in shrinking wetlands. Thanks to its adaptability and broad range, the species is considered stable.
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
- Wingspan: As wide as 2.01 m (6.6 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 3.6 kg (7.9 lb).
- Height: As tall as 1.38 m (4.5 ft).
- Where found: North and Central America, including the Caribbean – freshwater and coastal wetlands, marshes, lakeshores, rivers, and mangroves.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The great blue heron is the largest heron species in North America, standing up to 1.38 meters (4.5 feet) tall with a wingspan reaching 2.01 meters (6.6 feet). Despite its name, the bird’s plumage is mostly bluish-gray, with a white crown, dark eye stripe, and long legs adapted for wading. It is a familiar sight in wetlands and along shorelines, often seen stalking fish with slow, deliberate steps. While elegant in flight, gliding with slow wingbeats and a tucked neck, its stature and reach make it one of the continent’s most imposing wetland birds.
This species occupies nearly the entire continent, from Alaska and southern Canada to the Caribbean and Central America. Northern populations are migratory, while those in warmer coastal or southern regions remain year-round. The heron thrives in both freshwater and saltwater environments, including marshes, lakes, rivers, mangroves, and tidal flats. Its adaptability even extends to urban and developed areas, as long as fish-bearing waters are present. The population is large, increasing, and stable, reflecting the bird’s ecological flexibility and resilience.
Sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis)
- Wingspan: As wide as 2.3 m (7.5 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 6.7 kg (14.8 lb).
- Height: As tall as 1.36 m (4.5 ft).
- Where found: North and Central America – wetlands, grasslands, marshes, prairies, and agricultural fields.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The sandhill crane is one of North America’s tallest birds, with large individuals standing as high as 1.36 meters (4.5 feet) and wingspans reaching up to 2.3 meters (7.5 feet). While most adults weigh between 4 and 5 kilograms (8.8-11 pounds), exceptionally large individuals of the greater subspecies (A. c. tabida) can reach 6.7 kilograms (14.8 pounds), particularly within migratory populations in the northern United States and Canada.
Sandhill cranes are among the most widespread cranes in the world, occurring from Alaska to Florida and as far south as Cuba and northern Mexico. They breed in wet meadows, bogs, and prairies and winter in open agricultural fields, flooded plains, and coastal marshes. Northern populations are strongly migratory and gather in enormous flocks at key stopover sites such as Nebraska’s Platte River.
The species has rebounded significantly since the mid-20th century and now thrives across much of its former range. However, several non-migratory subspecies, including the Mississippi and Cuban sandhill cranes, remain rare and isolated, requiring intensive management and protection to prevent further decline.
Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
- Wingspan: As wide as 1.44 m (4.7 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 17.1 kg (37.6 lb).
- Body length: Up to 1.25 m (4.1 ft).
- Where found: United States, Canada, and Mexico – mixed forests, woodlands, swamps, and open savannas.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The wild turkey is one of the heaviest native birds in North America, with large males (often called gobblers) weighing up to 17.1 kilograms (37.6 pounds). Most commonly, males reach around 11 to 13 kilograms (24.3-28.7 pounds), particularly within the widespread eastern subspecies (M. g. silvestris), which ranges across central and eastern North America.
Though not built for long-distance flight, wild turkeys are strong fliers over short bursts and even more impressive on foot – their sprinting speed of up to 40 km/h (25 mph) places them among the fastest-running birds in the world. With broad tail fans, iridescent plumage, and powerful legs, they cut a striking figure across a wide range of habitats.
Wild turkeys inhabit everything from hardwood forests and swamps to oak savannas and chaparral. They favor areas that combine mature woodland for roosting with open ground for feeding, often using dense understory for nesting. This adaptability has fueled a dramatic recovery across their historic range, and the species now occurs in every U.S. state, including localized introductions in Alaska.
Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
- Wingspan: As wide as 2.24 m (7.3 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 10.9 kg (24.0 lb).
- Body length: Up to 1.10 m (3.6 ft).
- Where found: Canada, United States, and Mexico – wetlands, lakeshores, agricultural fields, and urban parks.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The Canada goose is the largest wild goose native to North America, with adults reaching body lengths of up to 1.10 meters (3.6 feet). The largest individuals, belonging to the B. c. maxima subspecies, can weigh over 10.9 kilograms (24 pounds) and span up to 2.24 meters (7.3 feet), making this the largest wild goose ever reliably recorded.
These heavy-bodied waterfowl are instantly recognizable by their black heads and necks, white chinstraps, and gray-brown bodies. While capable of sustained flight, their size and honking calls are most familiar during migratory formations or while grazing in flocks across open ground.
Canada geese inhabit a vast range of environments across North America, from tundra to suburban lawns. Originally migratory, many introduced or urban populations have become year-round residents, particularly in the United States. Their adaptability has led to a dramatic population increase, especially in cities and agricultural areas where food and nesting sites are abundant.
During the breeding season, males often become highly defensive, aggressively protecting their mate and nest. Bold individuals, particularly in urban areas, may confront humans directly – charging, hissing, and even striking with their wings. Such behavior has earned the Canada goose a place among the more unexpectedly aggressive bird species, despite its otherwise familiar and even comical reputation.
Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
- Wingspan: As wide as 2.28 m (7.5 ft).
- Weight: As heavy as 5.0 kg (11.0 lb).
- Body length: Up to 1.52 m (5.0 ft).
- Where found: Coastal regions of North and Central America – estuaries, bays, and shallow inshore waters.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.

The brown pelican is one of the largest coastal birds in the Americas, with a wingspan reaching 2.28 meters (7.5 feet) and a body length of up to 1.52 meters (5.0 feet). Although smaller and lighter than its inland relative, the American white pelican, the brown pelican is notable for its striking silhouette, long bill with throat pouch, and distinctive plunge-diving behavior. Unlike the white pelican, which forages cooperatively on lakes and marshes, the brown pelican hunts alone – diving headfirst into the ocean from heights to capture fish just below the surface.
Found along both Atlantic and Pacific coasts from Canada and the southeastern United States to the tropics and down to Chile, the brown pelican inhabits warm inshore marine environments, including bays, estuaries, and harbors. It avoids open sea and depends on shallow coastal waters rich in schooling fish like sardines and anchovies. Colonies are typically established on low islands, beaches, or mangrove coasts, where birds nest in ground scrapes or low vegetation. Once endangered due to pesticide use, the species has made a strong recovery and is now widespread and increasing in much of its range.
Where big size meets survival
From towering cranes and massive condors to soaring pelicans and ground-stomping turkeys, North America is home to an extraordinary diversity of large bird species. Each one reflects a different strategy for survival: the height of the whooping crane for scanning marshes, the bulk of the trumpeter swan for long-distance migration, the vast wings of the condor for gliding on thermals, or the strength of the bald eagle in a mid-air pursuit.
These birds dominate the skies, wetlands, and open spaces they inhabit, often serving as ecosystem indicators, conservation symbols, or simply unforgettable sights. Many have made impressive recoveries thanks to decades of protection, while others still depend on active management to ensure their survival. Their stories remind us that size alone doesn’t guarantee safety, and that even the biggest birds need room to thrive.