Our minds often take flight with birds, envisioning them soaring through the air but the natural world is full of surprises, and some birds have wings that never leave the ground. From penguins to ostriches, these flightless wonders have adapted to thrive in their own unique way.

Penguins

Their wings are modified to be more suited for swimming and diving in the water

Ostriches

The largest birds in the world, their wings are relatively small and useless for flight

Emu

Similar to ostriches, emus are also flightless birds

Cassowaries

Related to emus and ostriches, they are also flightless. They are native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, The Moluccas, and northeastern Australia

Rhea

Large, flightless birds native to South America

Weka

A small, flightless bird native to New Zealand

Kiwi

Kiwis are New Zealand's natural flightless birds