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| #REDIRECT ] | |||
| ] is the largest living bird.]] | |||
| The largest living bird, a member of the ], is the ] (''Struthio camelus'') reaching a height of over 2.7 m (9 ft) and weighing over 156 kg (345 lb).<ref name="birding"> records</ref> Eggs laid by the Ostrich can weigh 1.4 kg (3 lb) and are the largest eggs (and thus single cells) in the world today. | |||
| The largest bird in the fossil record may be the extinct ]s of Madagascar, which were related to the ]. They exceeded 3 m (10 ft) and 500 kg (1,120 lb). The last of the elephant birds became extinct about 300 years ago. Of almost exactly the same proportions as the largest elephant birds was '']'' of Australia, part of a 26,000-year old group called ]s of the family ]. The tallest bird ever however was the ] (''Dinornis maximus''), part of the moa family of New Zealand that went extinct about 200 years ago. This moa stood up to 3.7 m (12 ft) tall<ref name=birding/> when it was erected in an unnatural position, but weighed about half as much as a large elephant bird or mihirung due to its comparatively slender frame. | |||
| The largest carnivorous bird was '']'', an extinct flightless bird from South America which reached a weight of 350 to 400 kg (770 to 880 lb) and a height of about 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in). | |||
| The largest bird ever capable of flight was '']'', a now extinct member of the ] group, with a wingspan of up to 8.3 m (28 ft), a length of over 3 m (10 ft) and a body weight of 80 kg (175 lb). | |||
| *'''Waterfowl''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species in general is the ] (''Cygnus buccinator''), which can reach an overall length of 1.82 m (6 ft), a wingspan of 3 m (10 ft) and a weight of 17.3 kg (38 lb). However, the heaviest waterfowl ever recorded was an ] ] (''Cygnus olor'') from Poland, who weighed nearly 23 kg (50 lb). The members of the previously mentioned ] are now classified as members of this order, making them the largest "]" that ever lived. | |||
| *'''Swifts & allies''' ('']'') | |||
| :The ] (''Streptoprocne semicollaris'') and the ] (''Hirundapus celebensis'') reach similar large sizes, at up to 225 g (8 oz) and 25 cm (10 in). The ]s are also traditionally included in this order, the largest species of which is easily the ] (''Patagona gigas''). | |||
| *'''Nightjars & allies''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species of this order is the ] (''Nycitbius grandis''), the maximum size of which is about 680 g (1.5 lb) and 60 cm (2 ft). | |||
| *'''Shorebirds''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species in this diverse order is the ] (''Larus marinus''), attaining a size of as much as 85 cm (34 in) and 2.5 kg (5½ lb). The extinct ] (''Pinguinus impennis''), at 5 kg (11 lb) was the record holder, however. | |||
| *'''Herons & allies''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species, if measured in regard to body weight and wingspan, is the ] (''Vultur gryphus''), reaching a wingspan of 3.2 m (10.7 ft)<ref name=birding/> and a weight of 15 kg (33 lb). The longest-bodied species is probably the ] (''Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis''), which often exceeds 1.5 m (5 ft) tall. Most of the largest flying birds in the fossil record, including the largest, '']'', were members of the Ciconiiformes. | |||
| *'''Mousebirds''' ('']'') | |||
| :The mousebirds are remarkably uniform, but the largest species is seemingly the ] (''Colius striatus''), at 2 oz (60 g) and over 14 in (35 cm). | |||
| *'''Pigeons''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species of the pigeon/dove complex is the ] (''Goura victoria''). Some exceptionally large ones have reached 3.7 kg (8.2 lb) and 85 cm (34 in). The extinct flightless ] (''Raphus cucullatus'') was the largest bird of this order of all time, weighing about 23 kg (50 lb). | |||
| *'''Kingfishers & allies''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species is the ] (''Bucorvus leadbeateri''), reaching sizes of as much as 6 kg (13.5 lb) and nearly 1.2 m (4 ft) in length. The Largest kingfisher ] (''Megaceryle maxima'') is 42–48 cm long, with a large crest and finely spotted white on black upperparts. The male has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts wit. | |||
| *'''Cuckoos & allies''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species of this order is the ] (''Corythaeola cristata''), a cousin of the ]s. This species, which can weigh over 1.2 kg and measure over 74 cm in length, is much larger than other ]s. | |||
| ] is the biggest of the living birds of prey]] | |||
| *'''Birds of prey''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species is the ] (''Aegypius monachus''), attaining a maximum size of 14 kg (31 lb), 119 cm (47 in) long and 3 m (10 ft) across the wings. Slightly larger, at up to 1.4 m (4.7 ft) long, wingspan 3 m (10 ft) and weighing at least 15 kg (33 lb), was the now extinct ] (''Harpagornis moorei''), the largest ] known. | |||
| *'''Gamebirds''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest member of this diverse order is the ] (''Meleagris gallopavo''). The largest specimen ever recorded was just short of 14 kg (31 lb) and 130 cm (52 in). The heaviest ] on record weighed 37 kg (81 lb).<ref name=birding/> The longest species, if measured from the tip of the bill to the end of the long tail coverts, is the ] (''Pavo muticus''), at up to 3 m (10 ft) long. A prehistoric, flightless family, sometimes called (incorrectly) "giant megapodes" ('']'') were the biggest galliformes ever, having reached 1.70 m (5.6 ft) long and weighed up to about 30 kg (66 lb). | |||
| *'''Loons''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species on average is the ] (''Gavia adamsii''), at up to 1 m (3.3 ft) and 7 kg (15.4 lb). However, one exceptional ] weighed 8 kg (17.6 lb), heavier than any recorded Yellow-billed Loon. | |||
| *'''Cranes & allies''' ('']'') | |||
| :The ] (''Otis tarda'') and ] (''Ardeotis kori'') are the heaviest birds capable of flight, both occasionally reaching 21 kg (46 lb)<ref name=birding/> and 1.5 m (5 ft) long. The tallest and longest bird flying bird on earth, also represented in the ], is the ] (''Grus antigone''), sometimes standing almost 2 m (6.6 ft) tall. The largest ever gruiform was a species of "terror bird", highly predatory, flightless birds of South America: '']''. This species stood about 2.8 m (9.2 ft) and weigh up to about 400 kg (880 lb). | |||
| ] shares the title of the largest songbird with its common cousin.]] | |||
| *'''Songbirds''' ('']'') | |||
| :Both the ] (''Corvus corax'') and the ] (''Corvus crassirostris'') are enormous by ] standards. Both of these birds can exceed 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) and 70 cm (28 in). | |||
| *'''Cormorants & allies''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species is the ] (''Pelecanus crispus''), which attains a length of 1.82 m (6 ft), a wingspan of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) and a body weight of 15 kg (33 lb). A pelecaniform of the late Miocene, '']'', was among the largest flying birds ever, at up to 2.1 m (7 ft) long with a wingspan of 6 m (20 ft). | |||
| *'''Flamingos''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest flamingo is the ] (''Phoenicopterus ruber''), at up to 1.5 m (5 ft) tall and 4 kg (8.8 lb). | |||
| *'''Woodpeckers & allies''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species of this diverse order is the ] (''Ramphastos toco''). The maximum size of this tropical forest bird is possibly as much as 1 kg (2.2 lb) and 75 cm (30 in). The largest woodpecker is the ] (''Campephilus principalis''), which has a total length of about 20 inches (50 centimeters) and, based on very scant information, weighs about 20 ounces (570 grams). It has a 30 inch (75 centimeters) wing span. | |||
| *'''Grebes''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species of grebe is the ] (''Podiceps major''). It can reach a length of 80 cm (32 in) and a weigh of over 2 kg (4.4 lb). | |||
| ] are largest sea bird]] | |||
| *'''Tubenoses''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species is ] (''Diomedea exulans''), which also possesses longest wingspan of any living bird. The maximum dimensions are a length of 1.44 m (4.6 ft) and a wingspan of 3.63 m (nearly 12 ft).<ref name=birding/> Immature have weighed as much as 13.8 kg (35 lb) at the time of their first flights. The largest-ever tubenose (though it is sometimes classified in the order ]) was the albatross-like '']'', with a wingspan of about 6 m (20 ft).<ref> Encyclopædia Britannica Online</ref> | |||
| *'''Parrots''' ('']'') | |||
| :The longest and largest overall parrot is the endangered ] (''Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus''), reaching nearly 1.2 m (4 ft) long and 2 kg (4.4 lb). However, the heaviest parrot is the nearly-extinct ] (''Strigops habroptila'')<ref>David, N. & Gosselin, M. 2002. The grammatical gender of avian genera. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 122: 257-282</ref>, which can weigh over 4 kg (8.8 lb), but doesn't much exceed 60 cm (2 ft). | |||
| *'''Sandgrouse''' ('']'') | |||
| :The ] (''Pterocles orientalis'') is the largest sandgrouse, at a maximum size of 634 g (1.4 lb) and 45 cm (18 in). | |||
| *'''Penguins''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species is easily the ] (''Aptenodytes forsteri''), with a maximum size of 1.35 m (4.3 ft) and 46 kg (102 lb). At one time, possibly competing with the ]ian ]s, a number of giant penguins existed. The largest is believed to be '']'', having reached a height of nearly 2 m (6.7 ft) and a weigh of up to 135 kg (300 lb). | |||
| ] is one of the biggest owls]] | |||
| *'''Owls''' ('']'') | |||
| :Both the ] (''Bubo bubo'') and ] (''Bubo blakistoni'') reach very large sizes. Record-sized specimens of both species have weighed about 4.5 kg (10 lb) and measured over 80 cm (32 in) long. The largest owl known to have existed was '']'' of Cuba, having measured over 1 m (3.3 ft) tall. | |||
| *'''Tinamous''' ('']'') | |||
| :The largest species of ], a group of chunky, elusive ground-birds from tropical America, is the ] (''Tinamus tao''). It can reach a weight over 2 kg (4.4 lb) and length of over 55 cm (22 in). | |||
| *'''Trogons''' ('']'') | |||
| :The ] (''Pharomachrus mocinno'') is much larger than most ]s. It often exceeds 225 g (8 oz) and is at least 35 cm (14 in) along the head-and-body, with the remarkable tail of the male adding 60 cm (2 ft) to the length. | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
Revision as of 20:38, 30 June 2010
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