A woodpecker can peck twenty times a second.
A woodpecker can peck twenty times a second.
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Bird Facts
Bird facts and facts about birds, from the smallest hummingbird to the ones that never learned to fly.
34 facts on this shelf
Interesting fact about albatross naps
An albatross can sleep while it flies. It apparently dozes while cruising at 25 mph.
Hummingbirds are small, how small are they?
Hummingbirds are the smallest birds - so tiny that one of their enemies is an insect, the praying mantis. Check out the photo: praying mantis serving dinner
What is the only bird with a penis?
Swans are the only birds with penises.
Why is a turkey a turkey?
The turkey was named for what was wrongly thought to be its country of origin.
Can an ostrich see better than it can think?
An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain.
Where do penguins live?
All penguin species are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, but the greatest numerical concentrations are on Antarctic coasts and sub-Antarctic islands.
What animal is allowed to provide evidence in court?
The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in an American court.
What's the world's largest bird
The average adult male ostrich, the world's largest living bird, weighs up to 345 pounds.
What animal is linked to the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands were not named for a bird called a canary. They were named after a breed of large dogs. The Latin name was Canariae insulae - "Island of Dogs."
Fun fact about the Kea, a bird in New Zealand
There is a two-foot long bird called the Kea. The kea lives in New Zealand and just loves to eat the strips of rubber around car windows.
The world's largest living bird
The average adult male ostrich, the world's largest living bird, weighs up to 345 pounds.
The world's fastest bird
The fastest bird is the Spine-tailed swift, clocked at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour.
Hummingbirds can hover in place, maybe that's a problem.
Hummingbirds are so small that one of their predators is an insect, the praying mantis. Check out the photo: praying mantis serving dinner
Can that bird fly?
Humming birds can fly up to 71 miles per hour. Penguins, emus, ostriches, cassowary, kiwi, kakapo (a parrot), rhea and ratites are all birds that do not fly.
What does it mean that Golden Retrievers have a "soft mouth"?
Golden Retrievers are known for a "soft mouth," meaning they can carry things gently without damaging them. That trait was bred in so they could retrieve birds for hunters without crushing them, and some Goldens can even carry a raw egg without cracking it.
What does it mean when a dog "points"?
Pointing is when a hunting dog like the German Shorthaired Pointer freezes, often with one front paw lifted, and aims its nose at hidden game so the hunter knows exactly where the bird is.
What breeds went into creating the German Shorthaired Pointer?
The German Shorthaired Pointer was developed by mixing older German bird dogs and tracking hounds with the English Pointer, which added speed, elegance, and a sharper pointing instinct.
What sounds do Maine Coons make?
Maine Coons are known for chirping and trilling, surprisingly small, bird-like sounds coming from such a big cat, instead of loud meowing.
Which bird is the fastest swimmer?
The gentoo penguin is the fastest-swimming bird, reaching speeds of about 22 miles per hour underwater.
How deep can emperor penguins dive?
Emperor penguins can dive more than 1,600 feet deep and stay underwater for over 20 minutes, the deepest dives of any bird.
How did a snake wipe out Guam's birds?
The brown tree snake was accidentally brought to Guam around WWII and wiped out most of the island's native forest birds, one of the worst invasive species disasters ever recorded.
How did the Wright brothers control their airplane?
The Wright brothers controlled their plane using "wing warping," twisting the wingtips to roll left or right, an idea inspired partly by watching birds.
Can animals sense Earth's magnetic field?
Some animals, including migrating birds and sea turtles, can sense Earth's magnetic field and use it like a built-in compass.
What was the Dream Team?
The 1992 US Olympic basketball "Dream Team," featuring Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, was the first US Olympic team with NBA players and won gold in Barcelona.
Where does the golf term "birdie" come from?
The golf term "birdie" comes from Atlantic City in 1899, when a player called a great shot "a bird of a shot."
Are avocados toxic to birds?
Avocados contain persin, which is toxic to birds.
Did Saint Francis preach to birds?
A famous story says Saint Francis of Assisi preached a sermon to birds.
Did Dickens's pet raven inspire Poe?
Charles Dickens's pet raven, Grip, is believed to have inspired Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," and the stuffed bird is now at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Why can't birds feel the heat of chili peppers?
Birds can't feel the burn of capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot, so they eat the peppers and spread the seeds.
Did a bird drop bread into the Large Hadron Collider?
In 2009, a piece of bread dropped by a bird caused a problem at the Large Hadron Collider.
Do puffins nest at Haystack Rock?
Tufted puffins nest on Haystack Rock in spring and summer.
Do golden eagles nest at Smith Rock?
Golden eagles nest at Smith Rock, and some areas close seasonally to protect them.
Why are parts of the Oregon Dunes closed?
Parts of the Oregon Dunes close seasonally to protect nesting western snowy plovers.