Facts about Flightless Birds make you talk about the birds, which have lost their ability to fly. Penguins, kiwi, rhea, cassowary, emu and ostrich are some flightless birds in the world. They evolve into the flightless birds to match the environment. Ostrich takes the record as the largest living flightless bird, which has the weight of 156 kilogram and length of 2.7 metres. The smallest flightless bird is the inaccessible island rail with the weight of 34.7 gram and length of 12.5 cm. Here are other unique facts about flightless birds to notice:
Facts about Flightless Birds 1: farming ostriches
Ostriches are important birds in the industries. People farm them to take their skins, meat and feathers.
Facts about Flightless Birds 2: the ability to fly
The ability of fly is lost for many domesticated birds like domestic ducks and domestic chickens. However, their ancestors had the ability to fly for extended period.
Facts about Flightless Birds 3: the total loss of flight
The total loss of flight is experienced by the Broad Breasted White turkey due to the selective breeding. The birds with heavy weight also lost their ability to fly for the wings are not capable to support fly.
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Facts about Flightless Birds 4: New Zealand
The country, which owns more species of flightless birds in the world, is New Zealand. They include takahe, a number of species of penguins and kiwi.
Facts about Flightless Birds 5: the major reason
The major reason why New Zealand is mostly inhabited by the flightless bird is due to the lack of large land predators in the country.
Facts about Flightless Birds 6: the extinct flightless birds
Many members of flightless birds are extinct. They include the Asian strict, king island emu, Tasmanian emu, kangaroo island emu, elephant birds and moa.
Facts about Flightless Birds 7: the members of extant flightless birds
The extant species of flightless kiwis include Great spotted kiwi, little spotted kiwi, southern brown kiwi, okarito kiwi, and north island brown kiwi.
Facts about Flightless Birds 8: Gigantism
Gigantism is considered as a cause of flightless bird. It correlates if the birds live in an island, which lacks of competition and predators.
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Facts about Flightless Birds 9: kiwi
Even though gigantism is cited as a cause of flightlessness, it does not apply to kiwi. This animal is a flightless bird even though it does not exhibit gigantism.
Facts about Flightless Birds 10: the differences of flightless and flying birds
The absent keel on the breastbone and smaller wing bone are spotted on the flightless birds. The wing movement requires the keel muscles.
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