Bird Extremes

Biggest: The largest bird is the ostrich. It can grow up to 9 feet (2.7 m) tall. The ostrich also lays the largest birds’ eggs which are up to 4.5 x 7 inches (11 x 18 cm) across and weigh 3 pounds (1400 g).

Largest Extinct Bird: Dromornis stirtoni which was about 10 feet (3 m) tall and weighed up to 1,000 pounds (454 kg).

Smallest: The smallest bird is the bee hummingbird which is 2.5 inches long ( 6.2 cm) weighing only 0.06 oz (1.6 g). Hummingbirds lay the smallest birds’ eggs. They always lay 2 at a time, each the size of a person’s small fingernail.

Oddest Fliers: The only backwards and sideways flyer is the hummingbird.

Fastest in the Sky: The fastest flying birds include:

• The peregrine falcon, clocked at 90 mph (145 kph). There are even accounts of these raptors diving at speeds up to 200 mph (320 kph).
• The spine-tailed swift, about 90-100 mph (145-160 kph).
• The harpy eagle – 37-50 mph (60-80 kph).
• Champion racing pigeons fly up to 53 mph (85 kph).
• Mallard duck – 65 mph (105 kph).

For more bird extremes, visit the Zoom Birds page from Enchanted Learning.