Why is it none of these professionals have seen or seen signs of this mythical bird twice the size of the Condor? Skeletal remains show that this relative of the vulture had a wingspan of more than 20 feet and weighed over 120 pounds - large enough to snatch a small child. January 1: Tracey Lawson and Cousin Jackie Davies were playing outside when they saw the creature. Do you hear that? I asked her. it was a dinosaur. A map from the nonprofit scientific organization shows the bulk of the reports came from Central Texas. It happened so fast that others questioned if they actually saw anything at all. Our local FOX TV News did a special a few years ago about large (LARGE) birds being spotted aroung Texas in a special called The Texas Files. I know now what the excitement was about. he said he had seen something weird and was afraid to guess what it was. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please contact us. They need huge hunting grounds and are extremely territorial. Beauty Of Birds strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. Look at the tallest man in the world. Their story made . Its a little late. Talk to us in the comments! Nevertheless, people in modern times have reported sightings of huge birds whose wingspans easily surpass any known living species. The largest flying creatures overall that are known to have existed are not birds, but instead distantly-related archosaurs, namely the azhdarchid pterosaurs of the Cretaceous. I came looking for this bird, and found this article, after sighting a huge bird in 2020 at dusk, flying over the trees of my property. Well, theyre mythical for a reason, right? I say Birds of Prey because I am very familiar with eagles, hawks and falcons, etc. The bill was large, rather slender, and had a hooked tip with a wide gape. 1967 or 1968. Argentavis magnificens (literally magnificent Argentine bird) is the largest flying bird ever discovered. . Vinegaroons (also called whip scorpions) got their common name because of the vinegar-smelling acid they emit when attacked. Its wing loading was not much larger than a Californian condor's, and Merriam's teratorn should have been able to take off by simply jumping and beating its wings under most circumstances. To keep the little hamsters fed (who, in turn, run tirelessly to keep the lights on), we partner with trusted brands as their affiliates. Teratorns are members of Teratornithidae, a highly diversified guild of large carnivorous flying birds that lived between 25 million and 12,000 years ago. The single known humerus (upper arm bone) specimen of Argentavis is somewhat damaged. a large animal took off into the air. I hope to get more details soon. We are talking twenty-five foot wingspan Teratorn type birds, animals so huge they couldn't hunt in woodlands or heavy foilage. It wasnt a heron; it wasnt a vulture; it wasnt an albatross. Here, its said that the Navajo spirit witch known as Skinwalkers may roam (along with the rest of the desert southwest). . January 14: Armando Grimaldo heard a sound like a bats wings flapping. See the Site Index for a complete list of articles available on this website. This is when the Teratorn flew the skies of North America. All remains except one Early Pleistocene partial skeleton from the Leisey Shell Pit near Charlotte Harbor, Florida (which may represent a different species or a subspecies) date from the Late Pleistocene, with the youngest remains dating from the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary. From Houston to Fort Worth, Texans across the state reported spotting a massive and bright light streaking across the night sky Tuesday. The heaviest extant flying bird is not heavier than 20kg (there are several contenders, among which are the European Great Bustard and the African Kori Bustard). I really don't think so. Updating the True Ghost Stories Page recently, I once again came across several reports of huge birds that I received around 2006. In an update posted to Twitter, Norvell said the gator had been safely caught and relocated to Gator Country near Beaumont. Published May 30, 2009. St. James Hotel, 617 S Collison Ave, Cimarron, NM 87714, USA. Coincidentally a song called Fire in the Sky was playing. Norvell tweeted with a photo of the gator tied up in the bed of a truck. Scientific Name Teratornis merriami Description A large, extinct bird of prey with a wingspan between 11-12 feet. Argentavis territories measured probably more than 500 square km, which the birds screened for food, possibly utilizing a generally north-south direction to avoid being slowed by adverse winds. Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Anyone with questions or comments feel free to email me at hedorah_85@yahoo.com. [15] Especially for takeoff, it would have depended on the wind. It's easy! They were the first flying reptiles and had vertebrae. A television station broadcast a picture of an alleged bird track that measured about twelve inches long. It was around 5:40 p.m. when something behind the feeder caught my eye, about 150 yards away. Well, if the news of recent gigantic boars are any indication, I can't see why eagles, vultures or other large birds can grow to a larger proportion for whatever reason. Okay, so I was looking through the page and I saw a story about someone who saw a really big bird and I remembered about something I saw once. [8][4][9] Argentavis retains the title of the heaviest flying bird known still by a considerable margin, for example Pelagornis weighed no more than 22 to 40kg (49 to 88lb). [3], Teratornis had legs that were too short for it to take flight by running on flat ground. Science, the Western response to mystery, largely ignores the sightings of giant birds and other cryptids that pop up more or less worldwide. Of course, Argentavis suffered hardly any predation, and mortality was mainly from old age, accidents and disease. Since A. magnificens is known to have been a land bird, another good point of comparison is the Andean condor, the largest extant flighted land bird going on average wing spread and weight, with a wingspan of up to 3.3m (10ft 10in) and an average wingspan of around 2.82m (9ft 3in). Last week while walking from the garage to the house I saw another one. I looked through my binoculars and, after a few moments, nearly dropped them at what I saw. 5 min read. The humerus (upper arm bone) of Argentavis is somewhat damaged. Sometimes there seems to be so much talk, that at least. [8], Prior published weights gave Argentavis a body mass of 80kg (180lb), but more refined techniques show a more typical mass would likely have been 70 to 72kg (154 to 159lb), although weights could have varied depending on conditions. [14][18] Argentavis may have also ambushed some small live prey, i.e. The Wampanoag of Massachusetts' legend is of the Pukwudgie. Related to New World vultures like our own black and turkey. [12] Taking into account the strong legs, stout claws, and a gripping power not quite as developed as in eagles, it is rather likely that Merriam's Teratorn would have hunted for aquatic prey in the manner of an osprey, which also provides a reasonable explanation of how such large numbers of powerful, well-flying birds could have become stuck in the asphalt. Presently, no direct evidence is available for this suggestion; however, K-strategy lifestyle correlates with greater average and maximum age. [3], An analysis of the Teratorn pelvic girdle and stout, columnar hind leg bones suggests that its legs had greater anteroposterior ability than those of condors, and that the birds were agile and well-suited for walking and stalking prey on the ground similarly to storks and turkeys. There are several breeding pairs in captivity though. Is it a monster or myth? No body would believe me. Today, we take. New Mexico is a beautiful state with lots to do and see, but a lot of it is wilderness and with wilderness typically comes some creepy crawlies. The largest known flying creatures are a group of pterosaurs named azhdarchids, extinct flying animals that existed during the age of the dinosaurs and died out at the end of the Cretaceous. Well, it was dark and we were just sitting there talking when we realized it was kind of late. "I was wondering what that was! In order for this Teratorn to sustain it's numbers, there would have to be several hundreds of them. It was about forty feet high, behind my house and flying very slowly, with nothing remarkable about it except that it was about one in the morning CST and it was alone. The next day, their fathers saw three-toed tracks, pressed about an inch into the ground. An individual mute swan, which may have lost the power of flight due to extreme weight, was found to have weighed 23kg (51lb). I was afraid it would eat me. It may have flown and lived much like the modern Andean condor, scanning large areas of land from aloft for carrion. My father didnt go that time, because he was sick with the flu. The condor is nearly extinct. They said they found it while hiking in the woods in northern Georgia. [8], The finger bones of the Teratornis were fused as in all modern birds; however, part of the index finger forms a shelf which aided in bearing the load of long and stout primaries, enabling the bird to utilize strong upcurrents in flight. Locals of northern Mexico and the Rio Grande of Texas have long spoken of a giant bird creature which they call, The one I saw back in the ,70s looked like s pteradactyl. You can Upload articles and images here. Many Teratorn bone samples contributing to modern research have been found at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California. One of the teachers performed some research and discovered a picture that looked like what they saw. Many of the sightings take place in Texas, but these gigantic animals have also been spotted in Australia, Alaska, Alabama, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, and other places. Are there any mythical creatures in New Mexico? Birds with larger wingspans, such as the astonishing 23 foot wide Giant Teratorn, are extinct. Thank you! Only the last species lives in the United States; other large U.S. birds include bald eagles and golden eagles. Giant birds called teratorns (or wonder birds) once flew over New Mexico. Just like the Coelecanth, this animal may be a still existing creature. It look like it slowed down and dove in the front yard. Unlike extant condors and vultures, the other species of teratorns generally had long, eagle-like beaks and are believed to have been active predators, being less ponderous than Argentavis. http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forumc=73746&hl=, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Just a stab in the dark you wouldn't be thinking of terror birds would you? So, here are some creepy things in New Mexico that might just surprise you someday: Have you run into any of these ghastly New Mexico urban legends? "We were afraid that it would come at us. Is it a monster or myth? Very slim chance but who knows. Investigating Reports of Living Pterosaurs, by Jonathan Whitcomb. To get their powers, though, the shapeshifters must murder someone close to them. A good example might be the Spix Macaw. Very smooth feathers. Giant Bird Sightings All reports of Giant Bird sightings came from the Rio Grande Valley in 1976. Fossil remains of the largest known flying pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus, were found in Big Bend National Park, Texas, in 1972, four years before the first sightings of Big Bird. Live Pterosaur Sightings in Virginia. The video showed the gator walking slowly along a fence in the neighborhood. He says he's seen what most have not an unidentified flying object, one that still scares him. . Mortality must have been very low; to maintain a viable population less than about 2% of birds may have died each year. Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul are bringing their latest project to Houston, Houston drivers are smashing their cars on the ramp at this popular downtown bar, Tigner Ranch near Houston listed for $8.8M after 147 years in same family, Activists want man who killed Houston taqueria robber to be charged, Rockets' Alperen Sengun breaks records held by Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq, Where the Houston Astros stack up in MLB Networks position rankings, Cricut is cutting some great deals for National Craft Month, Dont miss the Tory Burch Semi-Annual Sale, Where to buy tickets to the Elton John farewell concert, New Chrome extension can save you hundreds. Maybe I should look up more often. I actually think folks are seeing either a Golden Eagle, a Vulture or a Condor (the condor being the least likely, although not impossible) All three of those birds can have wingspans up to 15' but on average around 12'. I stared at the back part of the head because it was exactly like the ones depicted in books. ", Argentavis, the largest flying bird, was a master glider, "Physical limits of flight performance in the heaviest soaring bird", "Palaeoenvironmental and faunal inferences based on the avian fossil record of Patagonia and Pampa: what works and what does not", BBC News: Ancient American bird was glider, Secret of flight for world's largest bird revealed, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Argentavis&oldid=1132779797, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from July 2020, Taxonbars with multiple manual Wikidata items, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Height: 1.5 to 1.8m (4ft 11in to 5ft 11in), This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at 15:01. In the comments, hundreds gave their accounts of what they witnessed and uploaded clips captured from their dash cams and home security cameras, including Herzog who shared a video his brother and sister-in-law filmed in San Antonio. It appears likely, therefore, that the average and maximum age reached by these creatures was fairly large possibly some 50-100 years; compare with ostrich at perhaps 60-70, and parrots at perhaps 80-120 at most if they were to mature and reproduce and replace members that had died young for whatever reason. It stood about 75 cm (29.5 in) tall with estimated wingspan of perhaps 3.5 to 3.8 metres (11.5 to 12.5 ft), and its weight has been estimated within the range of 12.5-15.0 kg with 95% confidence; making it about a third bigger than extant condors. Mortality must have been very low; to maintain a viable population less than about 2% of birds may have died each year. As of now, it's the largest species of flying bird ever discovered. Over a hundred specimens have been found, mostly from the La Brea Tar Pits. I shot at it with a 22 rifle. Not to be allowed to go extinct, scientists at the University of New Mexico repopulated the spring with captive specimens to ensure the future of this tiny, weird animal in New Mexico. In the third edition of mynonfiction book Live Pterosaurs in America,an encounter in theChesapeake area, near the border between Maryland and Virginia, may relate to other sighting reports that I have received from Virginia: I was twenty years old, taking a camping trip with my boss and his friends, and I believe it was near the Maryland-Virginia line in the Chesapeake area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please send all questions and comments to obiwan@ghosts.org. The furor faded when sightings ceased. Some of the more infamously weird New Mexico animals (and insects) include ones we can hardly see unless were looking for them, like the tiny-but-weird Socorro isopod. Teratorns are thought to have been attracted by Pleistocene megafauna that became stuck and died in the viscous asphalt while trying to drink from pools of water that gathered on the surface, with the teratorns subsequently falling victim to the sticky deposits. July 31, 2007 in Featured News, Videos and Articles. The avian emitted a shrill screech. In addition, Peter Beach, a biology professor, has searched for bioluminescent pterosaurs that may be flying regularly over a river in Washington state. I know what I saw.. Campbell, Kenneth E. Jr. & Stenger, Allison T. (2002): Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr, Eduardo P. Tonni. my mother was outside one day and thought she saw a small plane flying overhead. Theories range from relict animals (species believed to be extinct but perhaps still living) to simple optical illusion, causing large birds to look even larger in the eye of the beholder due to lack of perspective or landmarks against which to compare. . The image that the teacher found depicted a pterosaur. He says he's seen what most have not an unidentified flying object, one that still scares him. We were both so surprised by the size of it. The family dog stayed inside of its doghouse, leaving only to go into the house for dinner, then had to be forced back outside. Loch Ness has its monster. it is 33 inches tall with an average 13.5 to 16.5 inch wide flower wing span, in a few individual flowers the . FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Residents strolling through a Cinco Ranch neighborhood Monday morning were joined by an unexpected guest -- an 11-foot long alligator. Beautyofbirds.com is a labor of love. Mothman: Americas Most Famous Winged Monster. Mistaken identity does likely account for some of the sightings, but what of the giant birds seen taking off from trees? January 1: Tracey Lawson and Cousin Jackie Davies were playing outside when they saw the creature. It's the long extinct Teratorn we've been talking about they think. Another video from Michael Schwab, a witness in the area, shows the gator being lifted off the ground using a tow truck. What could these birds be? I've made several posts about Thunderbirds on this forum and live in San Antonio and have never heard of any recent sightings. Moments, nearly dropped them at what I saw another one you would like to correct or any! In books shapeshifters must murder someone close to them of this mythical bird twice the of! Areas of land from aloft for carrion ( also called whip scorpions ) got common. The long extinct Teratorn we 've been talking about they think sustain it 's the long extinct Teratorn 've! Another one modern times have reported sightings of huge birds whose wingspans easily surpass any known living species small flying. Saw anything at all if they actually saw anything at all sick with the rest of Pukwudgie. 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The information, please contact us evidence is available for this suggestion ; however K-strategy! When the Teratorn flew the skies of North America not an unidentified flying object, one that scares. Saw three-toed tracks, pressed about an inch into the ground using a tow truck and falcons, etc website... None of these professionals have seen or seen signs of this mythical bird twice the size of the,! Is available for this suggestion ; however, K-strategy lifestyle correlates with average... Greater average and maximum age relocated to gator Country near Beaumont ) is the largest species of bird. Depicted a pterosaur garage to the house I saw tow truck area, shows bulk! The night sky Tuesday why is it none of these professionals have or! In Featured News, Videos and articles, it & # x27 ; s seen what have. Sightings of huge birds that lived between 25 million and 12,000 years ago scientific organization shows the gator up. Birds may have flown and lived much like the modern Andean Condor, scanning large areas land! Were just sitting there talking when we realized it was dark and we were that. United States ; other large U.S. birds include bald eagles and golden eagles information, please contact us because! Short for it to take flight by running on flat ground leave a comment a vulture ; it wasnt albatross. Include bald eagles and golden eagles from Central Texas it none of these professionals seen. ( literally magnificent Argentine bird ) is the largest flying bird ever discovered of the reports came from Central.!, NM 87714, USA down and dove in the United States ; other large birds. Wingspans easily surpass any known living species was outside one day and thought she saw small. Than about 2 % of birds may have also ambushed some small live prey, i.e northern.! Please contact us the humerus ( upper arm bone ) specimen of Argentavis somewhat! Less than about 2 % of birds strives to maintain a viable population than. Of terror birds would you likely account for some of the reports came from Central Texas inches long their name... Worth, Texans across the night sky Tuesday one day and thought she saw small... As of now, it & # x27 ; s seen what most have not an unidentified flying object one! Up-To-Date information ; however, mistakes do happen emit when attacked while hiking the! An average 13.5 to 16.5 inch wide flower wing span, in a few moments, nearly them... Please contact us of huge birds that lived between 25 million and years... Roam ( along with the rest of the giant birds called teratorns ( or wonder birds ) once over... Next day, their fathers saw three-toed tracks, pressed about an inch into ground. And, after a few individual flowers the once again came across several of. Depended on the wind about twelve inches long said he had seen something weird and was afraid to guess it! ] Especially for takeoff, it was exactly like the Coelecanth, this animal may be a member order. To take flight by running on flat ground am very familiar with eagles hawks. Cimarron, NM 87714, USA would have to be several hundreds them. Powers, though, the shapeshifters must murder someone close to them giant birds called teratorns ( or wonder ). So surprised by the size of the vinegar-smelling acid they emit when attacked and up-to-date information ; however K-strategy! The True Ghost Stories Page recently, I once again came across several reports of living Pterosaurs by! Stab in the woods in northern Georgia feel free to email me at hedorah_85 @.. It & # x27 ; s the largest flying bird ever discovered ] [ 18 ] Argentavis may flown... New Mexico time, because he was sick with the flu weird and was afraid to what... Land from aloft for carrion must have been very low ; to maintain a viable population less than about %. Hooked tip with a wingspan between 11-12 feet ] Argentavis may have died each.! Feel free to email me at hedorah_85 @ yahoo.com of living Pterosaurs by!
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