There are now over 10,000 bird species in the world. These are the only animals with feathers. Their beak and light hollow bones are also distinguishing characteristics. Most birds eat insects or plants, but some species eat meat. Some species migrate to warmer climates during the winter. Every bird is distinct and one-of-a-kind. They differ in size, beak and leg shape, plumage, and many birds have interesting rituals, such as during the nesting season. Here are the most unusual birds, including the largest and smallest, as well as cute and strange birds. To find out more about specific bird breeds, look up the book of garden birds.
This is the world’s largest bird, standing three meters tall. The ostrich is a flightless African bird. The ostrich is also the fastest bipedal creature, with a top speed of 70 km/h. Among bird eggs, ostrich eggs are the largest.
The casuarina is another large bird that lacks the ability to fly. It can be found in New Guinea and northeast Australia’s rainforests. Its hollow horny crest on the back of its head may be used to amplify low-frequency vocal sounds. The kazoo’s middle toes have sharp claws that it uses to defend and attack enemies.
The condor, in addition to being one of the largest flying bird species, has the largest wingspan of any modern bird of prey. It is not particularly attractive, but its flight is endowed with a singular perfection and grace. Birds with massive wings that are perfectly adapted to flight can soar for hours over the tops of mountains in search of prey. A giant that feeds on carrion consumes about 1 kg of food per day. Nests are built on rocky platforms.
Birds differ in a variety of ways, including size. Even among predators, the smallest birds can be found. Several species of hummingbirds and kings, as well as short-billed warblers and hornbills, are among the smallest birds.
There are several very small birds among the 334 hummingbird species. The smallest species, however, is the Cuban hummingbird bee. It has a body length of 6 centimeters and a weight of 2 grams. It is the tiniest bird in the world.
The black-footed falcon is the world’s smallest bird of prey. Another species, the white-footed falcon, is about the same size. These gambling hunters have a maximum length of 15 cm and a weight of 35 g. These Southeast Asian birds primarily feed on insects and lizards.
This is the smallest member of Europe’s and Ukraine’s avifauna, and it lives in coniferous forests. The yellow-headed Korolko weighs no more than 8 g and is the taiga’s smallest bird. Even in the dead of winter, it only eats small spiders, insects, and their eggs. During the winter, kings travel in groups, often with tits. They also fly into cities, but because of their small size and ability to stay high in tree crowns, people rarely notice them. The yellow-throated goldfinch is one of Luxembourg’s national symbols. Another kingfisher species, the red-headed kingfisher, is also small in size, with a maximum length of 9 cm and a weight of 4-7 g.