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NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Highest Flying Bird 
Name: Tammy
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
How high can birds fly? What is the highest flying bird?

Replies:
The Birdwatcher's Companion, C. Leahy, ed., a thorough but dated (1982) reference lists an airplane collision with a Ruppell's Griffon Vulture at 37,000 feet as the highest recorded. 21,000 feet by both a mallard and smaller land bird migrants were the North American records at that time. Altitude is deceptive, since a bird at an impressive 10,000 feet at sea level is flying "lower" than a bird a few hundred feet above the ground on high mountains.

J. Elliott

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