There’s Big Bird and then there’s really big birds. The elephant birds of Madagascar, which went extinct about a thousand years ago, have long been counted among the largest birds ever to walk the planet. But a second look at the bones they left behind has led researchers to rethink the birds’ family tree — and just how big they got.
Before we get into details of the new research, here’s the tidbit I know you want: Newly designated species Vorombe titan, an extinct flightless bird from Madagascar, is the new heavyweight bird champion of the world, weighing on average an estimated 650kg (more than 1,400 pounds for you Imperial holdouts).
