The largest extant species of bird measured by mass is the common ostrich (Struthio camelus), closely followed by the Somali ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes). A male ostrich can reach a height of 2.8 metres (9.2 feet) and weigh over 156.8 kg (346 lb),[1] A mass of 200 kg (440 lb) has been cited for the ostrich but no wild ostriches of this weight have been verified.[2] Ostrich eggs are the largest of any bird, averaging 1.4 kg (3.1 lb).[3]
The bird with the largest wingspan is the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) of the Sub-Antarctic oceans. The largest dimensions found in this species are an approximate head-to-tail length of 1.44 m (4.7 ft) and a wingspan of 3.65 m (12.0 ft).
By families edit The
- The Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), found in temperate Eurasia, is the largest of the accipitrine hawks. Although their sizes vary, they typically measure 5364 cm (2125 in) in length and 103117 cm (3 383. 84 ft) and weigh 0. 631. 4 kg (1. 43. 1 lb). [52] It is rivaled in terms of wing size and body mass by the Hensts goshawk (Accipiter henstii) and Meyers goshawk (Accipiter meyerianus).
- The ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) of North America and the upland buzzard (Buteo hemilasius) of Asia are the two largest species of buteonine hawks. The former can have a wingspan of 133142 cm (4. 364. 66 ft), weigh 0. 982. 1 kg (2. 24. 6 lb) and measure 5669 cm (2227 in) in length. [53] The upland buzzard’s weight, which varies from 0 to 952. 05 kg (2. 14. 5 lb), despite being somewhat bigger at 5772 cm (2228 in) in length and 143161 cm (5663 in) in wingspan, than the ferruginous hawk.
- The largest harrier species is thought to be the swamp harrier (Circus approximans), which is found in Australasia. It is 5060 cm (2024 in) long, with a wingspan of 120145 cm (4757 in) and weighs nothing. 581. 1 kg (1. 32. 4 lb). [54].
- The red kite (Milvus milvus) is the largest species of kite. Its dimensions are 6070 cm (2428 in) in length, 174179 cm (6970 in) in wingspan, and 0 kg in weight. 81. 3 kg (1. 82. 9 lb).
- With an average length of one foot, the trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) of Northern North America is the largest species of waterfowl. 82 m (6. 0 ft), a wingspan of 3. 1 m (10 ft) and a weight of 17. 3 kg (38 lb). [55] A Polish cob (Cygnus olor) weighing 23 kg (51 lb) was the heaviest single waterfowl ever documented; it was reportedly too heavy to fly. [40].
- The Canada goose (Branta canadensis), or more precisely the subspecies known as the giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima), is the largest species of goose. Individuals can reach more than 9. 1 kg (20 lb) in weight. [56].
- The American Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is the largest species of duck. Males can weigh from 4. 56. 3 kg (9. 913. 9 lb) in weight and up to 86 cm (34 in) in length. [57] But the species is currently assigned to the Tadorninae subfamily, which includes shelgeese and dwarf hares, and the genus is now thought to be paraphyletic. If this is the case, the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the largest species of true ducks, also known as dabbling ducks (Anatinae). [58] They have a wingspan of 8295 cm (3237 in), a maximum length of 5065 cm (2026 in), and a weight of 1-0. 3 kg (2. 22. 9 lb). [59].
- The largest Apodiformes species are the purple needletail (Hirundapus celebensis) of the Philippine islands and the white-naped swift (Streptoprocne semicollaris), which are native to southern Mexico. Both reach weights of up to 225 g (7. 9 oz), lengths of up to 25 cm (9. 8 in) and wingspans as long as 0. 6 m (2. 0 ft). [60].
- The giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) of the Andes Mountains is by far the largest hummingbird species and is traditionally included in this order. Among hummingbirds, the smallest-bodied species of birds, “giant” is a relative term; the giant hummingbird species can weigh up to 24 g (0 85 oz) with a length of 23 cm (9. 1 in). [61].
- With a maximum length of 25 inches, the adult male black-tailed trainbearer (Lesbia victoriae) is the longest species of hummingbird in the entire order. 5 cm (10. 0 in). The hummingbird’s long tail streamers are mostly responsible for its length. The sword-billed hummingbird is another size champion among hummingbirds. This fairly large species has about half of its 21 cm (8 3 in) length derives from its bill. Of all the birds, this one has the biggest bill-to-body ratio. [62].
The
- The neotropical great potoo (Nycitbius grandis), the largest species of nocturnal birds in this order, can reach a weight of 680 g (1 50 lb) and a height of 60 cm (2. 0 ft). In juvenile Australian tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) specimens, heavier Caprimulgiformes have been observed; these specimens can weigh as much as 1. 4 kg (3. 1 lb). Other species that are almost as big as the potoo include the neotropic, cave-dwelling Papuan frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) of New Guinea and the 48 cm (19 in) neotropic oilbird (Steatornis caripensis). Both the great potoo and the oilbird have wingspans that can exceed one meter three 3 ft), the largest of the order. [63][64].
- The great eared nightjar (Eurostopodus macrotis), found in East Asia, is the largest species in the nightjar family, although it is smaller in size. Great eared nightjars can reach 150 g (0. 33 lb) and having a height of 41 cm (16 in). [65].
- The saddle-billed stork of Africa (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is the tallest and longest-bodied species in this order, with a body length that frequently surpasses 1. 5 m (4. 9 feet) tall with a maximum wingspan of 2 7 m (8. 9 ft). [75] The neotropical jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), the Asian greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius), and the African marabou stork (Leptoptilos dubius) are among the storks that reach a similar height but are more heavily built. Crumeniferus), with the largest weighing between 8 and 9 kg (18 and 20 lb). [31][76] It is estimated that all three birds can reach or surpass a wingspan of three times that of the Andean condor, with the greater adjutant and marabou coming in almost equal. 16 m (10. 4 ft). [40] Standing up to 1. 53 m (5. 0 ft), with a wingspan of up to 2. 3 m (7. The African goliath heron (Ardea goliath) is the largest heron and egret, growing to a maximum length of 5 feet and a weight of up to 5 kg (11 lb). Juvenile white-bellied heron (A. insignis) have been reported to weigh up to 8. 5 kg (19 lb) with heights of 1. 58 m (5. 2 ft). [77].
- It’s possible that many of the largest flying birds found in fossil records belonged to the Ciconiiformes family. Argentavis magnificens, the heaviest flying bird ever recorded, is a member of the teratorns, a group thought to be an ally of the New World vultures. [78].
- The largest ibis is the giant ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea). Adults may reach lengths of 102-106 cm (4042 in), heights of up to 100 cm (39 in), and weights of about 4 kg. 2 kg (9. 3 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 52. 357 cm (20. 622. 12 in), the tarsus is 11 cm (4 in), the tail is 30 cm (12 in), and 3 in) and the culmen is 20. 823. 4 cm (8. 29. 2 in). Japan’s crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) can grow up to 78 5 cm (30. 9 in) in height and 30. 9 cm (12. 2 in) in length.
- The speckled mousebird (Colius striatus), the largest species of mousebird, is over 14 inches (36 cm) tall and weighs 2 ounces (57 g). [79].
The
- The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is the largest species in the pigeon/dove complex found in Northern New Guinea. Some exceptionally large Victoria crowned pigeons have reached 3. 7 kg (8. 2 lb) and 85 cm (33 in). The Marquesan imperial pigeon (Ducula galeata), which can reach a maximum size of 0, is the biggest arboreal pigeon. 8 m (2. 6 ft) in diameter around the wings, and one kilogram (2 2 lb). [80].
- The largest known pigeons and doves are the Rodrigues solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) and the dodo (Raphus cucullatus). Both flightless species may have exceeded 1 m (3. 3 ft) in height. The dodo is often regarded as the largest pigeon ever recorded, with a potential weight of up to 28 kg (62 lb), however more recent estimates suggest that the average wild dodo weighed about 10 kg. 2 kg (22 lb). [81][82].
- At up to 48 cm (19 in) in length and 425 g (15 oz), the giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) is the largest kingfisher. 0 oz) in weight. [83] The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), a common species in Australia, may weigh even more; individuals weighing more than 450 g (0 99 lb) are not uncommon. A kookaburras wingspan can range up to 0. 9 m (3. 0 ft). [84].
The maximum body weight that can be carried out in a horizontal powered flight is theoretically limited to between 10 and 15 kg. This indicates that, in a technical sense, the largest male bustards are going above and beyond what is expected of them!
According to standard weights, the heaviest flying bird is the Andean condor (up to 15 kg), the great bustard (618 kg), the mute swan (615 kg), and the kori bustard (1119 kg). A kori bustard has a high weight that requires a lot of energy to fly, so it will only take off when absolutely necessary.
Largest extinct birds edit
Based on maximum reported or credible mass, the heaviest extant bird species are listed in the following table; for comparison, the average weight is also provided. Nearly all of these species lack flight, and their bodies are heavier and their bones are denser. The percentage of flightless birds is less than 1% of all extant bird species.
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