Bird Seed Reviews

16 Fun Facts About Bird Seeds

The warm-blooded vertebrates known as birds are beloved members of society. Comprising the Aves class, birds represent a wide variety of types and provide lots of fantastic facts. Here are 16 fun facts about the ostrich, the chicken, the mockingbird, and more.

1. The Ostrich is the Largest Bird in the World

Of all the birds in the world, the ostrich, found mainly in Africa, is the largest. It grows to between seven and nine feet, taller than a six-foot man, and weighs between 220 to 350 pounds.

The bird lays the largest eggs of all the birds in the world. Although it cannot fly, it has the fastest maximum running speed of any bird at approximately 60 miles per hour. A kick by an ostrich is powerful and can kill a man or a predator, such as a lion.

2. The Chicken is the Most Common Bird in the World

What is the most common bird in the world? It's the chicken! Did you know that 60 billion chickens are farmed for food every year?

Even though many people eat chicken every month, this bird is quite smart. For example, they have excellent memories and can do things like solve puzzles. According to World Animal Protection, they can also recognize up to 100 different human faces.

Another example of their intelligence is their ability to communicate with one another. Chickens do this by at least 30 different calls they use with one another.

3. Some Birds Lay Green or Blue Eggs

When we buy eggs in the store, they are typically white or various shades of brown. However, did you know that some birds lay eggs that are different from these colors? For example, the Ameraucana and Araucana chicken breeds lay green and blue eggs!

According to Angelo Capparella, associate professor at Illinois State University's School of Biological Sciences, varying egg colors is a mystery in some cases. Still, there are some concrete reasons, such as camouflage against predators and protection against ultraviolet light.

4. The Penguin is the Only Bird in the World that Walks Upright.

The penguin, found in the Southern Hemisphere, is the only bird in the world that walks upright. It's a bird that can swim, but it cannot fly.

There are 17 species of penguins. You will not find penguins in the Arctic, but you will find them in Antarctica. However, did you know that Antarctica is home to only four of these species?

Also, it's a misconception that penguins are food for polar bears. They are not. Polar bears are found in the Arctic, not Antarctica, and do not eat penguins.

5. The Kiwi Bird is Blind

Kiwi birds, found in New Zealand, are blind. So how do they hunt for food? They do so by smell. It's the only bird with nostrils at the end of its beak, giving it a strong sense of smell.

The mainly nocturnal kiwi bird has tiny wings, but it is a bird that can't fly. It's loose feathers feel like fur, and unlike other birds, these feathers will molt throughout the year.

When the bird comes out at night, it looks for grubs, insects, fallen fruit, earthworms, etc. In addition to using its keen sense of smell, it also feels and hears its way around.

6. The Mockingbird Can Imitate Lots of Sounds

When a human is "mocking" someone, he or she is usually doing it as a joke or in a mean way. However, it's in the innocent nature of a mockingbird to imitate a wide variety of sounds of other birds and animals.

There are 17 different species of mockingbirds. They are found in a variety of places, especially the Galapagos Islands. Unfortunately, the mockingbird is an endangered species.

7. Pigeons Were the Equivalent of "Radios" During the World Wars

During the 20th-century World Wars, there were no reliable methods of communication developed by humans. Therefore, the pigeon served as a method to transport communication from the fronts.

These pigeons were called carrier pigeons and were used in every American branch of service. For example, they were used to keep commanders up to date on what the enemy was doing.

The National Archives has an extensive collection of messages delivered by these carrier pigeons. These pigeons not only faced hardships, but they also saved American lives.

8. The Peregrine Falcon is the Fastest Bird in the World

There are some speedy birds in the world. The fastest one is the peregrine falcon, found across the globe, whose name comes from the Latin word peregrinus meaning "to wander." It can fly as fast as 242 miles per hour, and they can dive as fast as 200 miles per hour.

The use of pesticide Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane or DDT caused the peregrine falcon population to decline to the point that it was considered endangered. However, after the pesticide was banned in the 1970s, the falcon's population increased, and the species was removed from the endangered list.

9. The Flamingo Eats With Its Head Upside Down

We're all familiar with the pink flamingo. Did you know that the only way that it can eat is with its head upside down?

The pink bird is so beautiful, we love to re-create its image on a wide variety of places such as in paintings, on hats, on tee shirts, and as lawn ornaments.

The flamingo gets its pink feathers between one to three years of age. These birds rarely lay down, and they sleep standing up, usually on one leg.

10. A Woodpecker Can Peck Up to Twenty Times a Second

What do woodpeckers love to do? Peck, of course. Did you know that a woodpecker can peck up to twenty times a second?

There are approximately 180 species of woodpecker. They often peck tree bark for insects and peck holes in deadwood for nesting.

In fact, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, woodpeckers spend their whole lives in trees. They go up and down the trunk of trees looking for insects. Some woodpeckers also feed on fruits, berries, and sap.

11. The Rarest Bird in the World is the Spix's Macaw

Unfortunately, some species of birds are severely endangered. One of the most endangered is the Spix's macaw, also known as the little blue macaw, a parrot native to Brazil's forests. According to Animalia, this bird is the rarest parrot in the world.

The Spix's macaw is no longer found in the wild and is found only in captivity in zoos, mainly in private collections. They are nearly extinct due to the illegal pet trade, a restricted range, and the bird's killing.

12. The Albatross Can Soar for as Much as Six Hours Without Moving Its Wings

The albatross, one of the largest flying birds, flies, but it can also soar for as much as six hours. It can weigh up to 22 pounds, and its wingspan can reach up to 11 feet, making them feathered giants.

These birds are long-lived, up to 50 years, and are rarely seen on land. When they float on the sea's surface, they are susceptible to being attacked for food by ocean predators.

13. The Owl Can't Move Its Eyes

You're familiar with the eyes of an owl. However, did you know that an owl can't move its eyes?

Owls, of which there are 19 species in the United States, have tubular eyeballs. They, therefore, rotate their head 270 degrees, which allows them to get 360-degree vision.

Owls are nocturnal and have powering hunting skills. Unfortunately, a third of the owl species in the United States has declined, and they are on the endangered list.

14. Vultures Have Highly Corrosive Stomach Acid

The 22 species of vultures rarely eat live animals. They consume dead flesh, garbage, and sometimes they even eat excrement.

Part of a vulture's system is highly corrosive stomach acid. They can decompose solid bones within 24 hours.

They can go for long periods without food, so if they find a dead carcass, great. If not, they can survive for a long time until they do.

15. Parrots Can Live For More Than 80 Years

If you want to have a life-long pet, you may want to consider a parrot. A parrot can live for more than 80 years.

Parrots consist of more than 350 birds. These include macaws, lovebirds, cockatoos, Amazons, etc. Popular pet companions include macaws, parakeets, cockatoos, American parrots, and more. The longest-lived is the sulfur-crested cockatoo.

16. The Australian Pelican Has the Longest Bill in the World

Whether you call it a beak or a bill, some birds have large ones. For example, the Australian pelican has the longest bill of all the birds in the world of approximately two feet.

You can see the Australian pelican around the coasts. It's large bill also has a large throat pouch. Also, pelicans have large wings and large wingspans.

We hope you've enjoyed these 16 fun facts about this variety of birds. As you can see, they are fascinating creatures to learn about.