Gastornis

extinct birds · paleocene · giant

Towering Giant Birds. Gastornis were enormous flightless birds that lived from about 56 to 34 million years ago during a time called the Paleogene period. They were taller than most adult humans and had massive, powerful bodies.

Found in Many Places. Most Gastornis fossils have been discovered in Europe, but scientists have also found their remains in North America and Asia, showing these huge birds lived across many different continents.

Mysterious Name Mix-up. For a long time, scientists thought several different giant bird fossils all belonged to one group called Gastornis, including a well-known genus called Diatryma. Recently, some researchers have decided these might actually be separate kinds of birds.

No Flying Allowed. Unlike many birds today, Gastornis could not fly even though they had wings. Their massive size and heavy bodies made flying impossible, so they spent their lives walking on the ground.