• Question: Why did the terror bird go extinct and what is it's closest relative?

    Asked by to Shaylon on 27 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Shaylon Stolk

      Shaylon Stolk answered on 27 Jun 2014:

      We think the terror bird went extinct because of increased competition from other large predators. When it first evolved, it was the main predator in South America, but continental drift and climate change created the Isthmus of Panama, connecting North America and South America. That meant big predators from North America, like big cats, could out-compete the terror birds for food.

      We aren’t really sure what their closest living relatives are. Some scientists think it’s cranes, while other think it’s birds of prey (such as eagles).

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