According to new findings announced by researchers on Wednesday, the Andalgalornis steulleti - the giant, flightless “terror bird” which inhabited Argentina and became extinct nearly 5 million years back – demolished its prey using its huge beaks that could deliver swift and powerful pecks; and its skull that was almost two times bigger than the human skull.

Despite the fact that researchers have always been aware of the fact that the 5-foot-tall, 90-pound Andalgalornis steulleti was a predator, the new research reveals that the massive bird virtually wielded its skull and hooked beak like a pickax; and repeatedly chopped at the prey till it succumbed.

According to researchers, CT scans and biomechanical reconstructions, show that, compared to present-day birds, the “terror birds” had heavier, much more rigid structures, “really changing the architecture of the skull.”

Noting that the Andalgalornis steulleti “had the full kit” to kill its prey, Dr Steve Wroe - a University of Sydney, Australia, researcher who was part of the international research team studying the predatory behavior of “terror birds” – said: “These birds had enormous beaks with big hooks on the end. But we've shown they had to use those beaks with some precision and caution.”

Commenting on the findings of the new study, vertebrate paleontologist Bob Chandler of the Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Ga., said that the findings shed light on some of the behavior techniques of the massive “terror birds”; thus adding yet another layer to the biomechanics of paleontology.