If the smallest and largest birds in the world sat next to each other, the effect could be that of a city bus parked next to a tricycle. Birds have evolved to fill every ecological niche on the planet and have evolved body sizes and other adaptations to help them survive. Some birds prefer to be small and light, maneuvering and hiding in vegetation. Others are large, heavy, and strong, designed for long-haul flights.
The record holders for the world’s smallest birds are really a small group. With an infinitely small size of 1.5 grams and 5 centimeters, the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) is the smallest bird in the world overall. Although this bird is small, its appearance hides a fiery personality. The males, which are smaller than the females, are iridescent red, blue, green, and white. The species is endemic to Cuba.
There is a tie between the contenders for the title of the smallest raptor in the world. The black-footed falconet of Southeast Asia (Microhierax fringlius) and the White-fronted Falconet of Borneo (Latifrones microhierax) average 5.5 inches long and 1.25 ounces. Very small mice, watch out! Not much is known about the world’s smallest parrots, members of the genus Micropsitta from Papua New Guinea. Species within this genus, including the yellow-headed, buff-faced, Finsch, Geelvink, Meek, and red-breasted pygmy parrot, are about 8 centimeters long.
The world’s smallest average egg size award goes to the Verbena hummingbird egg (Mellisuga minima) From jamaica. The eggs, less than 1 centimeter long, are not much larger than a pea.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are the largest birds in the world. The overall category winner is the imposing ostrich (Struthio camelus), which is endemic to Africa, stands 2.7 meters (9 feet) tall and weighs 156 kg (345 pounds). Created for speed, the ostrich is also the fastest running bird in the world, with a speed of 45 miles per hour and lays the largest eggs in the world, at 2.3 kg.
The largest raptors are so large that it is a wonder they do not need a landing strip. The world’s largest raptor is the Eurasian black vulture, which has a wingspan of more than 9 feet (3 m) and weighs 30 pounds. (14 kg). The extinct Haast’s eagle (Harpagornis moorei) was even bigger, weighing in at 15 pounds. and with a wingspan of 10 feet.
The fossil record proves that some extinct birds were so large that they dwarfed even the heaviest living birds today. The largest bird in the fossil record is the Madagascar elephant bird, which grew to a height of 10 feet (3 m) and weighed an incredible 1,120 pounds. (500 kg). These birds became extinct approximately 300 years ago. Similarly huge was that of Australia Dromornis stirtoni. The tallest bird that ever lived was the Giant Moa (Dinornis maximus), endemic to New Zealand, which became extinct 200 years ago due to overhunting. This mammoth bird was up to 12 feet tall. The largest bird capable of flight was like a condor. Argentavis magnificens, which possessed a wingspan of 28 feet (8.3 m) and weighed more than 175 pounds. (80 kg).
