Argentavis

Argentavis magnificens was a giant teratorn that lived in what is now Argentina during the late Miocene. Its fossil remains indicate a wingspan of roughly seven metres, making it one of the largest known flying birds.

Teratornithidae: An extinct family of large New World vultures related to modern condors. Argentavis belongs to this family of giant soaring birds.
Bird flight: Powered movement through the air by birds, using wings to generate lift and thrust. Argentavis's anatomy and mass are best understood through the demands of bird flight.
Ezequiel Ramos Mexía Formation: A Miocene geological formation in Patagonia, Argentina, known for fossil-bearing sediments. Argentavis fossils were recovered from deposits of this formation.
Body mass estimation: The inference of an animal's mass from skeletal measurements and comparative models. Argentavis's mass estimates depend on how its bones are compared with living birds.
Miocene: A geological epoch lasting from about 23 million to 5.3 million years ago. Argentavis lived during the late Miocene.
Wing loading: The ratio of an animal's weight to the area of its wings. This quantity helps estimate the speeds and conditions required for Argentavis to remain airborne.
Argentavis magnificens: The type and only recognized species of the extinct teratorn genus Argentavis. This species is the fossil animal commonly meant by the name Argentavis.
Paleobiology: The study of the biology and ecology of ancient organisms using fossil evidence. Argentavis's behavior must be reconstructed from limited anatomical and geological evidence.
Andean uplift: The long-term rise of the Andes through tectonic activity and crustal deformation. Mountain building shaped the winds and landscapes across Argentavis's South American range.
Thermal: A rising column of warm air that can lift soaring birds. Thermals could have helped Argentavis gain altitude without continuous flapping.

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