If you include courtship displays in flying then the slowest bird(s) in the world, yes there is a tie, are the American woodcock Scolopax minor and the Eurasian woodcock  Scolopax rusticola. While doing their mating courtship flying feat, they go as slow as 5 mph. A bird's velocity is necessarily variable; … This is a list of the fastest flying birds in the world. Instead of flying over a larger distance, they use elevation to expand their field of vision. The Woodcock only flies 5 mph while it is demonstrating courting behavior. Watch this short video to get the answer. What is the slowest bird in the world? Bird Image Specie Family Maximum height Details Rüppell's vulture: Gyps rueppellii: Accipitridae: 11,300 metres (37,100 feet). Play any of our playlists to get random trivia questions and anwers in your preferred category. American Woodcock -- Slowest bird flying in courtship displays. Birds by flight height. The slowest flying bird is the American Woodcock. In addition to being some of the heaviest flying birds in the world, many of the birds on this list have some of the largest wingspans in the world. Look honey, I am so relaxed…a slow dance of sorts. xx. Vultures use their excellent eyesight to scan the landscape below from a relatively static aerial position.