dedennedillo
Active member
It is enshrined in popular knowledge at this point that kiwis lay the largest egg of any bird in comparison to their body size.
The Northern Brown Kiwi, which weighs in the region of 2700 grammes; and the egg weighs about 450 grammes.
So this is in the region of 17%.
A great spotted kiwi weighs in the region of 2000 grammes; and if the egg weighs the same then it's 22.5% weight of the bird.
So not quite the clean and dry quarter as often stated... which is an exceptional case.
So whatever the number is, it's still a damn large egg.
But then...
The Xantus' Murrelet* weighs about 160 grammes; the egg about 37 grammes.
This is about 23%, and if rounded up then it becomes 25%.
The Storm Petrel weighs about 25 grammes; and the egg about 6.8 grammes. This is even greater than a quarter at 27%.
So now I do wonder which bird it truly is that is best suited to this title... even if kiwi can be said to be the terrestrial bird whose egg weight is largest compared to body weight.
*Scripps and Guadalupe Murrelets - numbers are similar
The Northern Brown Kiwi, which weighs in the region of 2700 grammes; and the egg weighs about 450 grammes.
So this is in the region of 17%.
A great spotted kiwi weighs in the region of 2000 grammes; and if the egg weighs the same then it's 22.5% weight of the bird.
So not quite the clean and dry quarter as often stated... which is an exceptional case.
So whatever the number is, it's still a damn large egg.
But then...
The Xantus' Murrelet* weighs about 160 grammes; the egg about 37 grammes.
This is about 23%, and if rounded up then it becomes 25%.
The Storm Petrel weighs about 25 grammes; and the egg about 6.8 grammes. This is even greater than a quarter at 27%.
So now I do wonder which bird it truly is that is best suited to this title... even if kiwi can be said to be the terrestrial bird whose egg weight is largest compared to body weight.
*Scripps and Guadalupe Murrelets - numbers are similar
