Birds: singing in the still of the afternoon, glimpsing a cherry red breast as a Robin scoots across the garden, the irritation of seagulls descending on your beachfront picnic and laughing at the animated rather cross variety (you know the ones we mean).
With 11,000 different bird species in the world (not including the animated ones) our lives are continually touched by these awesome creatures. They are the animal known for the superpower that we all wish we had - the ability to fly.
What else do we know about this winged wildlife? Here are our 18 amazing facts about birds…
1. The Flamingo
Can eat only when its head is upside down.
2. Birds originally descended from reptiles
The Archaeopteryx is the earliest known bird which lived approximately 147 million years ago. This bird was so different to todays birds. Not only did it have a long bony tail but it also had teeth!
3. The robin
Was voted the UK’s most popular wild bird.
4. The largest living bird in the world is
The Ostrich, which can reach a height of up to 2.7 metres with a wingspan of up to 2 metres (fairly impressive for a bird that can’t fly). It will come as no surprise that the Ostrich also lays the largest bird eggs, weighing in at up to 1.5 kilograms.
5. The smallest living bird in the world is
The Hummingbird. Specifically the Bee Hummingbird, which measures a minute 5.5 centimetres long and weighs no more than 1.9 grams. Another fact about this bird is it also lays the smallest eggs, which are pea-sized.
6. Brown or white?
A chicken with dark earlobes will produce brown eggs and a chicken with white earlobes will produce white eggs.
7. Beats per minute
Bird’s heart beats can range from ~100 times per minute while resting to ~1200 beats per minute while flying, depending on the type of bird and temperature.
8. The only known poisonous bird in the world is
The Pitohui of Papua, New Guinea. The poison is found in its skin and feathers.
9. Pigeons were the radios of the world wars
With man-made communication methods being unreliable and basic it fell to the humble pigeon to transport thousands of messages from the battle lines at the front. Over 300,000 pigeons were used during both World Wars with 32 being awarded The Dickin Medal - the animal world’s Victoria Cross.
10. How high?
Penguins can jump as high as 9 feet in the air (3 metres).
11. The fastest bird on earth is
the Peregrine Falcon. When in its hunting dive it can reach a Maximum Recorded Airspeed of 389 k/h (242 mph). The fastest bird when in a level flight is the common Swift which has a maximum recorded airspeed of 169 km/h (105 mph).
12. Flying asleep
An albatross can sleep while it flies. It apparently dozes while cruising at 25 mph.
13. The most talkative bird in the world is
The African Grey Parrot. One parrot could say over 800 words. Most species of parrots can learn only 50.
14. The rarest bird in the world is
A duck called the Madagascar Pochard, it is estimated only 25 of these remain in the wild. (The most common is the domestic chicken).
15. Owls cannot move their eyes
As their eyeballs are tubular in shape. Because of this they are able to rotate their head 270° which is still further than any other animal. By swivelling its head round 270° it allows the Owl to achieve 360° vision.
16. Puffin power
Puffins can 'fly' underwater.
17. Hammer time
A woodpecker can peck twenty times a second and at speed of around 15mph. They can peck 12,000 times per day!
