What bird is considered the highest-flying bird?

Incredible that it can breathe and focus that high up.

Maestro13, Vultures like these, and other long-winged birds, have hemoglobin that can use oxygen much more efficiently than other birds. One that crashed into the windscreen of a plane at 37,000 feet was heard to say "Ooops" as it bounced away and flew off.

I am curious as to why, what advantage, is gained by flying so high?

! It’s probably fun and so cool just to be able to fly high and cruise around the beautiful sky . looking down at the woods and earth! Rivers, etc,,

Tom, they catch a ride on the 155+ mph jet streams, thus they can fly 1000s of miles per day.

I'd fly high if I ate carrion to.

Player #53553731, vultures feed on dead animals

Sheriffe, yeah but its still lower than 37000ft

that was question that i had in my mind

Demoiselle cranes fly at altitudes of 16000 to 26000 feet every year in their migration across the Himalayas.

modernproblem LXIX, At that altitude the air is too thin to fly at low speeds plus the temperature is way below freezing!

Tom, nothing to complete with and wind current that would take you 100 + mph on a glide with no effort

Tom, getting into the Guiness book of world records.