The now-extinct elephant bird of Madagascar, though flightless, somehow flew across the world to evolve into its present day flightless relatives.
The largest species of flightless birds alive today are called ratites, and include the ostrich, emu and rhea of Africa, Australia and South America, respectively.
Though large, they were once just as massive as the elephant bird, which stood up to nine feet tall and weighed as much as 600 pounds, according to The New York Times.
Scientists aren't sure precisely when these flightless birds became extinct, and for decades have studied DNA from their measly remains to figure it out.
Finally, a team of Australian researchers has now recovered sizable chunks of DNA from two different species of elephant birds.
They were surprised to find that the closest relative of the gigantic bird is the tiny New Zealand kiwi, also a ratite.