Pelagornis sandersi. Source: Liz Bradford
Discovered over 30 years ago during the construction of an airport, the bones of a gigantic seabird have only recently led to the description of a species new to science, Pelagornis sandersi. With a conservative wingspan of ~ 6.4 metres, P. sandersi belonged to an ancient family of birds that had tooth-like projections in their beaks, and was an expert glider, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. The paper, Flight performance of the largest volant bird, details a bird that truly dwarfed any species living today, over twice the size of the royal albatross.
California condor (left) and royal albatross (right) in P. sandersi's shadow. Source: Liz Bradford
Gliding for long distances would have been P. sandersi's stock in trade; it's biggest limitation would have been getting airborne in the first place. "I think they just waited on the beach for a strong wind to carry them aloft," study author Daniel Ksepka told the National Geographic.
The largest bird species known to science is 6 million-year-old South American condor Argentavis magnificens. With a 7 metre wingspan, A. magnificens, AKA, the Giant Teratorn, is now in direct competition with P. sandersi for the title of Most Terrifyingly Massive Bird Ever.
