This bird stunned scientists by flying 8,425 miles (13,560 km) without stopping.

Traveling from Alaska to Tasmania, a bar-tailed godwit stayed in the air for about 11 days straight, crossing the Pacific Ocean without landing once for food, water, or rest. It is considered the longest non-stop flight ever recorded for a bird.

Before migration, the godwit stores huge amounts of fat as fuel for the journey. Even more remarkably, it can shrink parts of its internal organs, including its digestive system, to reduce weight and conserve energy during the flight.

These extreme adaptations allow the bird to travel nearly half the planet in a single continuous journey, making it one of the most incredible endurance feats in nature.