Discovery – July 2023

There are about 10,000 species of birds around the world. Some birds, like ostriches, are flightless, can reach heights of 6 to 10 feet, and weigh up to 300 pounds. Other birds, such as the wandering Albatross, have wingspans measuring 8 to 12 feet, can weigh more than 25 pounds, and fly hundreds of miles in a single day—and thousands of miles in migration over a period of several days without ever stopping. (That’s quite amazing for a bird heavier than most turkeys!)

Equally impressive to “big birds” are the little birds we call “hummingbirds.” There are an estimated 350 species of hummingbirds in the world, which range in size from 2 to 9 inches in length and .07 ounces to .85 ounces in weight. Giant hummingbirds have a wingspan the length of a pencil and weigh less than one! That’s right, even the biggest hummingbirds weigh less than a standard postcard.