What is the limit of the birds ' flight altitude?

The maximum flight altitude of birds is limited by the energy and aerodynamic parameters of their body, as well as unfavorable physical factors: low atmospheric density, low temperatures, lack of oxygen.

Waving flight will allow birds to climb to heights up to ~ 5-8 kilometers, but due to ascending and thermal air flows, some bird species can climb to heights of about 10 kilometers.

So, mountain geese were recorded at an altitude of 10175 m, and the African vulture or Rueppel's vulture (Gyps rueppellii) flew higher: there is a known case of a collision of this bird with an airplane at an altitude of 11277 m.

The same factors limit the maximum flight heights of devices with piston or air-jet engines created by people.

The most high-flying birds

• 1. African vulture or Ruppel vulture (11,000 meters) Some of the highest flying birds. There is a known case of a bird colliding with an airplane at an altitude of 11,277 m.
• 2. Mountain goose (10,000 meters)
• 3. Whooper Swan (8,000 meters)
• 4. The Bearded man (7,500 meters)
• 5. Common mallard (6,000 meters)
• 6. Large spindle (6,000 meters)
• 7. White stork (5,000 meters)
• 8. Andean Condor (5,000 meters) 
• 9. Black Swift (3,000 meters)
• 10. Thules (plover) (3,000 meters)