Quick Fun Facts about Birds



Geese will also sometimes twist themselves into awkward looking positions
in order to slow down and reduce their height quickly.



1. What bird can’t walk but can fly upside down? Hummingbirds’ feet are only strong enough for perching. They can barely walk at all. The hummingbird is much more comfortable in flight. It can hover; fly forward, backward and upside down.

2. Which bird has the largest wingspan? The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) has the largest wingspan of any living bird. The largest known specimen of the species had a wingspan of 11 ft. 11 in. Its impressive wingspan allows the wandering albatross to glide without beating  its wings for long periods.  In fact, the wandering albatross has sometimes been known to sleep while it flies.

3. How many known species of birds are there? There are approximately 10,000 known species of birds in the world and 414 in Michigan.

Image via Wikipedia

Australian pelican (Pelicanus conspicillatus)

 4. What bird has the longest bill? The bill of the Australian pelican (Pelicanus conspicillatus) is 13-18.5 inches long. The longest beak in relation to body length is that of the Sword- billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) of the Andes. At 4 inches, the beak is longer than the bird’s body (excluding the tail).

5. What bird has the longest lifespan? Although the lifespan of many birds is unknown, some species of parrots have been known to live more than 100 years, making them the longest-living birds.