- How fast can birds fly?
- How high can birds fly?
- What is the largest bird in the world?
- What is the smallest bird?
- What bird lays the largest egg?
- Do all birds build nests?
- How do migrating birds navigate?
- What do I do if I find an injured bird?
1. How fast can birds fly?
Most birds go about their normal activities with a flight
speed between 20-30 mph although they are capable of going
faster when pressed. It is generally assumed that a bird will
choose to travel at a speed that is most energy efficient
and save its top speed for emergencies. The Common Eider is
one of our faster birds in normal flight with a cruising speed
of around 47 mph. Many ducks have been clocked at over 60
mph when under stress. Peregrine Falcons have been estimated
to reach speeds between 100 and 200 mph when stooping on their
prey. 
More
2. How high can birds fly?
Birds generally fly well below 500 feet except during migration.
Soaring raptors and vultures may climb higher as they survey
the landscape below them. It is estimated that most migrating
birds crossing the Caribbean travel at around 10,000 feet. They
may begin their nightly flights cruising around 5,000 feet then
gradually climb to a top altitude around 20,000 feet. One remarkable
report from a Northern Ireland air radar station showed a flock
of migrating birds traveling at 29,000 feet. They were visually
identified as Whooper Swans by a passing airline pilot.
More
3. What is the largest bird in the world?
The familiar Ostrich, native to Africa, is the world's largest bird. The males can reach a height of 2.75m (9 1/2 ft) and a weight of 150 kg (330 lbs). The largest bird at the Zoo is the Emu, found in Australia. This species grows up to 2m tall and 45 kg. Ostriches and Emus are ratites, or flightless birds. The Zoo also has representatives of some of the world's largest flying birds; the Andean Condor, the Trumpeter Swan, and the Kori Bustard.
4. What is the smallest bird?
The tiny Bee Hummingbird found on Cuba and the Isle of Pines
is so small that it is often mistaken for an insect. Its body
is only 1.25 cm (1/2 inch) long, with the rest of its 6
cm (2 1/2-inch) total length being made up of bill
and tail. Adults reach weights of only 2 to 2.5 grams. More on record-holding animals
5. What bird lays the largest egg?
The Ostrich, the world's largest bird, lays the largest egg, weighing in at 1,600 grams. Though this may seem huge, it represents only 1% of the bird's body weight. Kiwis, some Hummingbirds, and some species of Storm-Petrel regularly lay eggs that represent 25% of their body weight. The Great Tit of Europe lays eggs that are 10% of her body weight, but by the time she has finished the average clutch of 11, she has produced more than her own weight in eggs!
6. Do all birds build nests?
Not all bird build nests. Andean Condors lay their eggs on the sandy or gravel surface of a natural cave high in the mountains. Other species will modify a nest site only slightly by scraping the surface of the ground or adding a few sticks or leaves around the eggs. These minimal nest types are most common where predation is not a factor, such as on islands or inaccessible cliff faces.
Brush Turkeys, and other Megapodes, build large mounds of decaying plant material and bury their eggs within it. Instead of incubating the eggs directly, they simply maintain the mound by adding fresh material and allow the heat of organic decomposition warm their eggs.
Many birds dig a burrow in the ground or a bank to convey added protection for the nest from weather and predators. Some swallows, all kingfishers, and shelducks nest in such ground burrows. The 1-2 m long entrance tunnel that the European Bee-Eater constructs to its cavity allows the nest to remain significantly cooler and more humid than the dry scorching environment of the Mediterranean summer outside the burrow.
Tree cavities also provide security from weather extremes and concealment from the sharp eyes of predators. Although some birds such as woodpeckers can excavate their own nest cavities, others have to rely on natural cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes. Competition for nest cavities can be fierce and may limit the population of a species. Supplying artificial nest boxes has helped local populations of Eastern Bluebirds rebound from historic lows.
Most North American songbirds build open cup nests. The placement and construction of cup nests can increase their security. The bulky nests of Gray Catbirds are usually well concealed deep within a leafy bush or thicket. Hummingbird nests are often constructed over water and covered with materials that blend in perfectly with the tree limb. Many species prefer to build their nests in thorny plants to discourage climbing predators.
7. How do migrating birds navigate?
The world champion migrant may be the Arctic Tern, which breeds in the Arctic and "winters" in extreme southern South America and Antarctica. In contrast, Blue Grouse in the mountains of North America move as little as a kilometer down the slopes to a lower altitude for the winter months and then return up the mountainside in the spring. While a Blue Grouse may not have much trouble finding its way up and down the hill, most other migratory species face a daunting challenge that may involve ocean crossings and journeys of thousands of miles.
Longer lived species such as geese, swans, and cranes migrate as family groups. The young may learn the migration route from their elders. Most migratory songbirds must make their first long journey on their own. Some species of brood parasites, such as the European Cuckoo, are not even reared by their own parents, yet they still migrate according to the pattern of their true species. Navigation skills for these birds must be inherited rather than learned.
Not only do birds manage to cross thousands of miles to their
wintering grounds, they can return with amazing precision
to the same woodlot or even the same backyard bird feeder
year after year. More
8. How do birds navigate?
More than 50 years of research has explored many possible mechanisms
of navigation from topographical maps to celestial navigation
and detection of the earth's magnetic field. It is difficult
to get a clear picture of navigation because experimental
results for one species cannot reliably be extended to others.
Much experimental work on navigation and orientation has concentrated
on homing pigeons, a non-migratory species. Most birds probably
employ a combination of systems. A bird that normally relies
on celestial clues may orient by wind direction on an overcast
night. There is still much work to be done in understanding
avian navigation.
More
9. What do I do if I find an injured or abandoned baby bird?
If a bird has feathers and is able to hop but can't fly, it is called a fledgling and should be left alone. The bird should be returned to a bush as near as possible to where it was first found. Its parents will still care for it even if it has been handled by humans. The bird should be watched for a while to ensure its safety and parental care.
If the bird does not have feathers and appears helpless, warm it up and place it back in its nest if possible. If damage has been done to the nest, reinforce it using any available natural material.
If the bird appears to be an injured adult, contact an authorized wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Some birds may have very sharp beaks or talons, so be sure to exercise extreme care when handling.
