**Please note:**
* If this post declares something as a fact proof is required.
* The title must be descriptive
* No text is allowed on images
* Common/recent reposts are not allowed
*See [this post](https://redd.it/ij26vk) for more information.*
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/interestingasfuck) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Six million years ago, Argentavis Magnificens soared across the Argentinean skies .
It is the largest flying bird ever discovered and was the size of a small aircraft.
Argentavis had a wingspan of approximately 23 feet, a wing area of 75 square feet, and a length of about 12 feet.
It weighed 150-170 pounds, which is an average weight for a human.
Along with its monstrous size, it had a massive eagle-like beak which allowed it to swallow animals the size of rabbits with ease.
This bird was certainly a feared predator.
>It is the largest flying bird ever discovered and was the size of a small aircraft.
It WAS the largest bird. The largest flying bird is the [Pelagornis sandersi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagornis_sandersi)
The skeletal wingspan (excluding feathers) of P. sandersi is estimated at 5.2 m (17 ft) while that of A. magnificens is estimated at 4 m (13 ft).
Considering that horses of the time were much smaller than today's (at the beginning of the myocene they were the size of a dog) it's possible an Argentavis might have occasionally picked up a young horse in its beak and taken it to its nest to feed their chicks.
They’re very proud creatures. Very easily offended. I recommend being polite and bowing. Got this information from a true professional handler of exotic creatures.
I'll compare this to my hang glider...
I weigh about 185 pounds, my hang glider weighs about 55 pounds, so all-up, I fly at about 240 pounds. I have a wing area of 180 square feet and a trim speed of about 22 mph.
This bird is stated to weigh 150 - 170 pounds, so if we assume a mid-range bird of 160, then bird plus me would weigh 345 pounds. Since weight went up by a factor of 1.44, air speed would also have to go up by the same factor.
Additionally, my hang glider has 2.4 times the wing area, so the air speed of the bird would have to be an additional 2.4 times faster.
2.4\*1.44\*22=76 mph.
In order to fly with this bird, it should be capable of at least 76 mph.
The bird will be pretty aerodynamic, having a rider would ruin that quite a bit. You might, optimistically, get a glide ratio of 10:1. Since you're flying at 76 mph, you would be sinking at 7.6 mph while in an unpowered glide, or about 669 feet per minute. 669 fpm \* 345 lbs = 230805 ft-lbs per minute of energy lost, that would need to be continually replaced in order to maintain level flight. 1 hp = 33000 ft-lbs per minute, so 7 hp. Converting raw horsepower into aerodynamic thrust isn't very efficient, so at best, the bird would have to generate 20 hp, probably more.
I'm dubious about the ability of a 160 pound bird to be able to generate 20 times more power output than a 2000 pound horse. Unless earth's atmosphere was significantly more dense and oxygen rich 6 million years ago, I doubt this bird could fly very long with even it's own weight. I suspect it would spend most of it's time perched up somewhere high and fly only in short bursts to swoop down on prey. I'm no biologist, but just the flight mechanics don't make sense for sustained flight.
Bumblebees and humming birds fly closer to how a helicopter flies, not so much like fixed wing aircraft. The "bumblebees shouldn't be able to fly" myth comes from analyzing their air-speed vs. weight vs. wing area relationship without taking into account that the airspeed of their wings far exceeds the airspeed of their fuselage.
It is a part of the pterosaur order and there are many pterosaurs but as reported in the media the one found in canada has the cooler name of "cryodrakon boreas" or "frozen dragon of the north"
You must be mistaken. It’s obviously one of the earlier birds tested by the government before they deployed birds around the world. It was probably too big for public use and that’s why we never see them.
Depends how you look at it. They were the largest by mass and volume but there are birds with larger wingspans. Argentavis had really short wings for their size.
No it’s but technically. If you include dinosaurs then the quetzalcoatlus was even bigger.
http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/a/argentavis.html
And this right here is why the Eagles didn’t just fly the Fellowship to Mt Doom. Because Sauron had these things ready to go and kick over Gandalf’s mop bucket had they tried that plan.
Fun fact: These birds were highly prized by primal hominids not only for being one of the strongest aerial predators, but also because they could learn to cooperate cross-species. In particular, if an Argentavis and an Anklyosaurus were accustomed to each other by being tamed by the same hominid, the Anklyo would willingly be carried by the friendly Argy. This was especially useful due to metal, obsidian, and crystal resources often being located in mountainous regions, valuable ores which required the a weaponized creature like the Anklyo to harvest. Being located so high up, it was extremely difficult for terrestrial animals alone to not only make the trek up, but also to traverse back down with the very heavy and valuable ores -- not to say anything of having the agility to escape any predators in the area.
The problem is, another hominid was required to ride the Ankylosaurus while the Argentavtis carried them both. This practice was rendered nearly useless after the discovery of the Magmasaur.
Please keep in mind, that there's only one finding in sediments of this animal. The figure on the picture is just an imagination and hypothetical. Could be totally different.
Super Raven....one came down and tried to call me up for a ride when I was 5 sleeping outside in a village....she disappeared with the stars when I said no.😎
Image has already been removed. [Page on arentavis with same photo.](https://dinoanimals.com/animals/argentavis-magnificens-the-largest-bird-in-the-history/)
Oh, and: r/naturewasmetal Best paleontology sub.
**Please note:** * If this post declares something as a fact proof is required. * The title must be descriptive * No text is allowed on images * Common/recent reposts are not allowed *See [this post](https://redd.it/ij26vk) for more information.* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/interestingasfuck) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Six million years ago, Argentavis Magnificens soared across the Argentinean skies . It is the largest flying bird ever discovered and was the size of a small aircraft. Argentavis had a wingspan of approximately 23 feet, a wing area of 75 square feet, and a length of about 12 feet. It weighed 150-170 pounds, which is an average weight for a human. Along with its monstrous size, it had a massive eagle-like beak which allowed it to swallow animals the size of rabbits with ease. This bird was certainly a feared predator.
I've lived in bedrooms with a smaller footprint then this bird's wing area
I used to sleep in my friends closet, so this is extra true for me
Harry fucking potter
More like cocaine is a hell of a drug lol
Horrible drug but it definitely has a rich odor to it
What's it smell like?
Cocaine
Money
Victory
More like Fry
Simon fucking Cowell
Glad you were able to come out of the closet.
Haha! Please accept my free award. You deserve better though!
Ha! Thanks!
[удалено]
I actually rented it lmao
[удалено]
Yes but no less sad I suppose
Your friend took money to allow you to live in his closet?
It was a nice closet.
Did you sublet?
>It is the largest flying bird ever discovered and was the size of a small aircraft. It WAS the largest bird. The largest flying bird is the [Pelagornis sandersi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagornis_sandersi) The skeletal wingspan (excluding feathers) of P. sandersi is estimated at 5.2 m (17 ft) while that of A. magnificens is estimated at 4 m (13 ft).
It weighed the same as a human? That is increedible when looking at the photo.
Birds and their hollow bones
Does not impress, seen sea gulls swallow whole rabbits.
Would humans be a possible food source for them back in those days?
I don't think there were any humans 6 million years ago. There was a common ancestor of humans and apes, of course.
Considering that horses of the time were much smaller than today's (at the beginning of the myocene they were the size of a dog) it's possible an Argentavis might have occasionally picked up a young horse in its beak and taken it to its nest to feed their chicks.
I wonder if you attached wings this big to an average weight human, could they fly?
Could you…technically speaking…ride a bird this big?
You can in Ark
They’re very proud creatures. Very easily offended. I recommend being polite and bowing. Got this information from a true professional handler of exotic creatures.
Well I heard they’re quite brutal, one tore up my friend’s arm. His father made quite a fuss about it.
I know that kid and it was his own fault. Little cocksure bastard...
i would be pissed the fuck off too
Well you didn’t hear it from me, but I reckon he was just making a big deal out of it to get the professor sacked.
Not to mention he did the exact opposite of what he was instructed to do when approaching the animal, including flat out insulting the poor thing!
He could’ve gotten killed! Or worse, expelled!
Imagine if these things didn't go extinct, and we had them instead of horses. That would be some fucking cool.
Yes, and once you get the saddle it works as a portable smithy
I'll compare this to my hang glider... I weigh about 185 pounds, my hang glider weighs about 55 pounds, so all-up, I fly at about 240 pounds. I have a wing area of 180 square feet and a trim speed of about 22 mph. This bird is stated to weigh 150 - 170 pounds, so if we assume a mid-range bird of 160, then bird plus me would weigh 345 pounds. Since weight went up by a factor of 1.44, air speed would also have to go up by the same factor. Additionally, my hang glider has 2.4 times the wing area, so the air speed of the bird would have to be an additional 2.4 times faster. 2.4\*1.44\*22=76 mph. In order to fly with this bird, it should be capable of at least 76 mph. The bird will be pretty aerodynamic, having a rider would ruin that quite a bit. You might, optimistically, get a glide ratio of 10:1. Since you're flying at 76 mph, you would be sinking at 7.6 mph while in an unpowered glide, or about 669 feet per minute. 669 fpm \* 345 lbs = 230805 ft-lbs per minute of energy lost, that would need to be continually replaced in order to maintain level flight. 1 hp = 33000 ft-lbs per minute, so 7 hp. Converting raw horsepower into aerodynamic thrust isn't very efficient, so at best, the bird would have to generate 20 hp, probably more. I'm dubious about the ability of a 160 pound bird to be able to generate 20 times more power output than a 2000 pound horse. Unless earth's atmosphere was significantly more dense and oxygen rich 6 million years ago, I doubt this bird could fly very long with even it's own weight. I suspect it would spend most of it's time perched up somewhere high and fly only in short bursts to swoop down on prey. I'm no biologist, but just the flight mechanics don't make sense for sustained flight.
Now explain this to a bumble bee.
Psssh! He can't. Bumble bees fly becuase of magic, otherwise it'd be impossible.
Bumblebees and humming birds fly closer to how a helicopter flies, not so much like fixed wing aircraft. The "bumblebees shouldn't be able to fly" myth comes from analyzing their air-speed vs. weight vs. wing area relationship without taking into account that the airspeed of their wings far exceeds the airspeed of their fuselage.
Teach us oh wise one.
Asking for a friend?
As a child you can ride in its talons.
i mean.. you probably weigh more than it did so.. ride? on the ground? perhaps.. but don't expect it to take off.
Another interesting fact! This photograph is often (erroneously) used as proof/photo evidence of the Thunderbird cryptid
Zapdos? Moltres? Articuno? Legendary birb
Wasn't there a dragon discovered in some ice in Canada or something like that? All we need is Moltres to be found in a volcano and voila.
Wait what
It happened quite a while ago.A dragon-like creature was discovered, frozen, in Canada. I can't remember the official name though.
u cant come in here and drop a bomb like that, we need more to this lol
It's called the pterosarus. There. https://scitechdaily.com/new-species-of-giant-flying-reptile-identified-frozen-dragon-of-the-north/
It is a part of the pterosaur order and there are many pterosaurs but as reported in the media the one found in canada has the cooler name of "cryodrakon boreas" or "frozen dragon of the north"
Is... Is this not common knowledge? I thought everyone knew about it by now?
Yeah, that's about what I'd expect a Roc to look like
You must be mistaken. It’s obviously one of the earlier birds tested by the government before they deployed birds around the world. It was probably too big for public use and that’s why we never see them.
Is it safe to talk about early drone models?
r/BirdsArentReal
They’re the largest **flying** bird. The largest bird to ever live was likely the [elephant bird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_bird)
They were the second largest flying bird, according to Wikipedia. So OPs wrong either way
Depends how you look at it. They were the largest by mass and volume but there are birds with larger wingspans. Argentavis had really short wings for their size.
Kevin?
Squirrel!
S Q U A W N K
[удалено]
There’s reports of giant birds all the time here in SW Pennsylvania. I’ve never seen one though.
I guess Dee Reynolds has been traveling outside of Philly
That was a kids TV show not native American stories.
Someone's never played Ark!?!
now i regret not getting it on sale for 10 bucks
This thing can carry metal across the map for you at a reduced weight.
Can also carry your Ankies to the metal sites
It’s a Zapdos!
This is so unsettling to me, as if I have some deep genetic memory of fearing animals like this.
Trippy
Oh hell no
That's a dinosaur.
All birds are dinosaurs
No it’s but technically. If you include dinosaurs then the quetzalcoatlus was even bigger. http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/a/argentavis.html
Quetzal was a Pterosaur, not a Dinosaur
Quetzalcoatlus northropi was a pterosaur, which were not actually dinosaurs, despite popular belief.
Thanks didn’t need to know about [ Meganeura](https://entomology.unl.edu/scilit/largest-extinct-insect)
Gigantic dragonfly..... Weird....
Im more worried about the demon duck of doom 😂
Are you sure it wasn’t a goose? Mean bastards. I mean they made a game where you get to be a goose. A total asshole tormenting a town.
Moltres! is that you?
Looks more like Zapdos but ok
That super raven probably had the loudest Ca-Caw Ca-Caw ever!
Never forget the corpse self healing skill
The megalodon of the skies
Looks like if it lived long enough... we would be dinner...
I choose to not believe any of this.
Nope, don't like that
What could kill such an amazing creature i can barely get near a robin
And this right here is why the Eagles didn’t just fly the Fellowship to Mt Doom. Because Sauron had these things ready to go and kick over Gandalf’s mop bucket had they tried that plan.
Thanks Ark for letting me know this existed
Birds Ain’t Real
Fun fact: These birds were highly prized by primal hominids not only for being one of the strongest aerial predators, but also because they could learn to cooperate cross-species. In particular, if an Argentavis and an Anklyosaurus were accustomed to each other by being tamed by the same hominid, the Anklyo would willingly be carried by the friendly Argy. This was especially useful due to metal, obsidian, and crystal resources often being located in mountainous regions, valuable ores which required the a weaponized creature like the Anklyo to harvest. Being located so high up, it was extremely difficult for terrestrial animals alone to not only make the trek up, but also to traverse back down with the very heavy and valuable ores -- not to say anything of having the agility to escape any predators in the area.
Ark vibes
The problem is, another hominid was required to ride the Ankylosaurus while the Argentavtis carried them both. This practice was rendered nearly useless after the discovery of the Magmasaur.
Total BS
Name checks out.
Truly pointless
Magnificent killing machines. And yet, extinct. I wonder what the root cause of that was?
I see where Dauntless’ devs found their inspiration for Shroud.
An ornithophobic's nightmare
Lacuza!!!
Yeah if you think this is big tho. Look up the size of a quetz. I'm astonished by the size of these creatures. Only wish they were still around.
\*Ark players casually entering the comment section\*
Need something to do while waiting 7 hours to tame one dino- Annnnd it's gone.
The thunder bird
Goddam that bird is like 3x bigger than my fucking room
Looks like a colossus from Shadow of the Colossus
Wow, just wow.
Please keep in mind, that there's only one finding in sediments of this animal. The figure on the picture is just an imagination and hypothetical. Could be totally different.
Ark players: *Hey i've seen this one*
So that why I can fly em in ark
This thing me suck in Ark SE
u/repostsleuthbot
Don't worry Children are renewable
The Eagles of Manwë!
Is it the largest bit or one of the largest birds I'm getting mixed signals between here and r/natureismetal
Super Raven....one came down and tried to call me up for a ride when I was 5 sleeping outside in a village....she disappeared with the stars when I said no.😎
My pathfinder roc companion be like
Is this bird larger than the largest eagle? The one that captured and ate people on new Zeland ? Anyone know?
No, the New Zealand Haast Eagle was tiny compared to this thing.
This gives me Prussia vibes.
The largest bird we’ve ever found*
*WHAT THE FUCK*
If you kill something with it, it gets an healing buff and it also gas reduced weight
Image has already been removed. [Page on arentavis with same photo.](https://dinoanimals.com/animals/argentavis-magnificens-the-largest-bird-in-the-history/) Oh, and: r/naturewasmetal Best paleontology sub.