10. Tasmanian Native-Hen
It is a flightless rail that look like a chicken. The heavy bodied native-hens have short wing. They live in small flocks. Despite being flightless, Tasmanian native-hens are good at swimming and running. They can run at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. Native-hens use their short wings while running.
9. Cassowary
Cassowary is a large flightless bird. It is the second largest living bird in the world. This flightless, large bird has long enormously powerful legs with sharp claws. So they can defend any predator with a single kick. With the powerful legs, Cassowaries can also run up to a speed of 31 miles per hour.
8. Greater Rhea
The greater rhea is a flightless bird found in eastern South America. Other names for the greater rhea include the grey, common, or American rhea.The greater rhea is the largest bird in South America.In the wild, the greater rhea has a life expectancy of 11 years. It is also notable for its reproductive habits, and for the fact that a group has established itself in Germany in recent years.
7. Takahe
Takahe is the largest member of rail bird family. They are endemic to Alpine grasslands of New Zealand. Takahe have a strong resemblance with common pukeko. But unlike pukeko, takahe are flightless. The wings of takahe are colorful, even though they are short. They use these wings during courtship to attract the female bird.
6. Guam Rail
It is a small flightless bird that endemic to U.S Island territory of Guam in the Marianas archipelago. They don’t have well developed flight muscles. Luckily, there are no natural predators on Guam Island to cause threats to this flightless bird.
5. Flightless Cormorant
Flightless cormorant is the only species of cormorants that can’t fly. They live in the Galapagos Islands and found nowhere else in the world. Flightless cormorants are also known as Galapagos cormorants. They only inhabit in Fernandina and Isabela Islands of Galapagos. Thankfully, flightless cormorants have no predators on these Islands.
4. Kiwi
Kiwi is a small flightless bird that native to New Zealand. There are five species of Kiwis in New Zealand – Brown Kiwi, Little spotted Kiwi, Great spotted Kiwi, Rowi and Tokoeka. Sadly, all five species of Kiwis are endangered. Kiwis are so unique among the world of birds. Because they feature a number of mammal-like characteristics. They have excellent sense of smell and hearing, hair-like plumage and dig burrows.
3. Ostrich
The flightless ostriches are the largest and heaviest living bird in the world. Their two-toed foot have very sharp claws. Ostriches use their strong legs to defend against the predators. It is said to be one kick of an ostrich has enough strength to kill an adult human.
2. Kakapo
Kakapo is an unusual species of parrot that endemic to New Zealand. They are the only flightless and nocturnal parrot in the world. Even though they are flightless, kakapos are excellent climbers. They can climb trees effortlessly. The yellow-green plumage of kakapo provide an excellent camouflage against the tree branches.
1. Penguins
Probably the most popular non-flying birds in the world. Unlike flying birds, the wings of penguins are short and stout. Penguins use their short wings to flap through water rather than flying. Penguins are exclusively live in the Southern hemisphere. Antarctica is home to 8 species of penguins. The emperor penguin is the largest penguin in the world.