Argentavis magnificens

Argentavis magnificens had an estimated wingspan of roughly 6–7 meters (around 20–23 feet) and a body mass near 70 kilograms. That makes it one of the largest flying birds ever known from the fossil record.

Argentavis lived during the late Miocene, roughly six million years ago. Its fossils come from terrestrial deposits in what is now Argentina.

Fossils of Argentavis magnificens were found in the Andalgalá Formation in Catamarca Province, northwestern Argentina. The species was formally described in 1980 by paleontologists Kenneth Campbell and Eduardo Tonni.

Researchers generally agree that Argentavis could fly, despite its enormous size, but its flight style was almost certainly dominated by soaring rather than flapping. Estimates suggest it relied heavily on updrafts and thermals, similar to modern condors and large albatrosses.