Top 10: what are the highest flying birds?

Giving Tim Peake a run for his money, these birds soar at the highest altitudes.


1

Rüppell’s griffon vulture

Rüppell’s griffon vulture

Altitude: 1,300m

Distribution: Sahel region, Africa

2

Common crane

Highest flying birds2

Altitude:10,000m

Distribution:Northern Europe and Asia

3

Whooper swan

Whooper swan

Altitude: 10,000m

Distribution: Northern Europe and Asia

4

Alpine chough

Alpine chough

Altitude: 8,000m

Distribution: Mountains from Spain to China

5

Lammergeier

Lammergeier

Altitude: 7,300m

Distribution: Mountains in Europe, Asia and Africa

6

Andean condor

Andean condor

Altitude: 6,500m

Distribution: Andes, South America

7

Bar-headed goose

Bar-headed goose

Altitude: 6,437m

Distribution: Central and South Asia

8

Mallard

Mallard

Altitude: 6,400m

Distribution: Europe, Asia and North America

9

Bar-tailed godwit

Bar-tailed godwit

Altitude: 6,000m

Distribution: Northern Europe, northern Asia and Alaska

10

White stork

White stork

Altitude: 4,800m

Distribution: Europe, North Africa and western Asia

Read more:

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.