Measured profile
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) is a large, heavy-bodied duck with an unusually strong difference in size between adult males and females. Its long…
- Wing length
- 345 mm
- Body mass
- 2.4 kg
Bird catalog
Birds
Browse measured bird profiles, from familiar backyard species to some of the largest and smallest birds in the catalog. Each profile brings size data and visual context together in one place.
62
published profiles
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Featured bird profiles
Three profiles from the current catalog, presented with their key measurements at a glance.
Measured profile
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulata
The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is a compact perching duck whose elaborate plumage can make its size surprisingly difficult to judge. Adults are generally…
- Wing length
- 222.2 mm
- Body mass
- 567 g
True-scale visual
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is a compact, medium-sized waterfowl species with proportions that differ noticeably from the long-necked or heavy-bodied shape of many…
- Body length
- 47–54 cm
- Wingspan
- 66–73 cm
- Body mass
- 454–862 g
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Open any card for the full size profile, morphology record, and available visual comparisons.
Species profile
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnus
The Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) is a large, long-necked swan with a body typically about 140–165 cm (55–65 in) long and a wingspan around…
- Wing length
- 582 mm
- Body mass
- 9.4 kg
Species profile
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) combines exceptional body mass with a long neck, broad wings, and a heavy, streamlined body. Adults are among the…
- Wing length
- 625.5 mm
- Body mass
- 11.1 kg
Species profile
Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
The Black Swan, Cygnus atratus, is a large waterbird with an unusually long neck, a heavy body and broad wings. Published measurements place adult…
- Wing length
- 459.2 mm
- Body mass
- 5.6 kg
Species profile
Lesser Flamingo
Phoeniconaias minor
The Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) is the smallest living flamingo species, but “lesser” can be misleading when judging its scale. An adult still stands…
- Wing length
- 318.4 mm
- Body mass
- 1.5 kg
Species profile
American Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
The American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) combines a relatively narrow body with extremely long legs and neck, so its visible height can seem out of…
- Wing length
- 408.8 mm
- Body mass
- 3.0 kg
Species profile
Little Penguin
Eudyptula minor
The Little Penguin, Eudyptula minor, sits at the smallest end of the penguin size spectrum. Its compact body can make simple size figures misleading,…
- Wing length
- 67.2 mm
- Body mass
- 1.1 kg
Species profile
African Penguin
Spheniscus demersus
The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is a compact, medium-sized penguin with a low, sturdy build rather than a tall, elongated profile. Published descriptions generally…
- Wing length
- 98.5 mm
- Body mass
- 3.1 kg
Species profile
Chinstrap Penguin
Pygoscelis antarcticus
The Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a medium-sized penguin with a compact body, long dark tail, narrow black bill, and a thin band of…
- Wing length
- 100.5 mm
- Body mass
- 4.1 kg
Species profile
Gentoo Penguin
Pygoscelis papua
The Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis papua, is a tall, sturdy penguin with a body shape that can look deceptively uniform from one colony to another.…
- Wing length
- 126.1 mm
- Body mass
- 5.9 kg
Species profile
Adelie Penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
The Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is a medium-sized Antarctic penguin with an adult body size centered around roughly 70 cm and a commonly reported…
- Wing length
- 94.5 mm
- Body mass
- 4.8 kg
Species profile
King Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus
The King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus, is the second-largest living penguin. Adults commonly stand about 85–95 cm (33–37 in) tall, but body mass is much…
- Wing length
- 167.2 mm
- Body mass
- 11.7 kg
Species profile
Southern Brown Kiwi
Apteryx australis
The southern brown kiwi, or tokoeka (Apteryx australis), has a low, rounded body, short powerful legs and a long bill that accounts for much…
- Wing length
- 0.1 mm
- Body mass
- 2.3 kg
Species profile
Southern Cassowary
Casuarius casuarius
The Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) is a very large, heavy-bodied flightless bird whose standing height comes from a combination of long legs, an upright…
- Wing length
- 300.8 mm
- Body mass
- 44 kg
Species profile
Emu
Dromaius novaehollandiae
The emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae, is Australia’s tallest native bird and one of the tallest living birds anywhere. An adult standing upright is commonly about…
- Wing length
- 124.5 mm
- Body mass
- 34.1 kg
Scale visual available
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Wild Turkey size varies unusually strongly within a single species. Adult males and females share the same long-legged, long-necked outline, but mature toms carry…
- Body length
- 110–115 cm
- Wingspan
- 125–144 cm
Species profile
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
The Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) has an unusual set of proportions for a cuckoo. Adult length is commonly reported at about 52–54 cm (20.5–21.3…
- Wing length
- 181 mm
- Body mass
- 376 g
Species profile
Common Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a medium-sized bird with a slim body, pointed wings and a long tail. Adults are commonly listed at…
- Wing length
- 192 mm
- Body mass
- 111.4 g
Scale visual available
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
The Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) packs the typical climbing build of a woodpecker into a very small body. Adults are commonly about 14–17 cm…
- Body length
- 14–17 cm
- Wingspan
- 25–30 cm
Scale visual available
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) has a body plan that looks large even before its red crest and bold plumage are considered. Adults measure…
- Body length
- 40–49 cm
- Wingspan
- 66–75 cm
Species profile
Laughing Kookaburra
Dacelo novaeguineae
The Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is built more heavily than its length alone suggests. The Australian Museum lists a size range of 40–45 cm,…
- Wing length
- 216.1 mm
- Body mass
- 333.8 g
Species profile
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a compact bird with an unusually long, pointed bill and a short tail. Adults are typically about 16–17…
- Wing length
- 73.3 mm
- Body mass
- 31.1 g
Scale visual available
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
Sandhill Crane size is better described as a range than as one fixed measurement. Across the species, adults are roughly 80–120 cm (2.6–3.9 ft)…
- Body length
- 120 cm
- Wingspan
- 200 cm
Species profile
White Stork
Ciconia ciconia
The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large, long-limbed bird whose apparent size comes as much from its proportions as from body mass. Adults…
- Wing length
- 565.6 mm
- Body mass
- 3.4 kg
Species profile
Shoebill
Balaeniceps rex
The Shoebill, Balaeniceps rex, combines a tall stance with an unusually broad head, a massive bill, long toes and wings that extend far beyond…
- Wing length
- 642.2 mm
- Body mass
- 5.9 kg
Scale visual available
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) combines a heavy body with exceptionally long wings and a bill that makes up a large part of its…
- Body length
- 100–137 cm
- Wingspan
- 200 cm
Species profile
Snowy Albatross
Diomedea exulans
The Snowy Albatross (Diomedea exulans), long known as the Wandering Albatross, is built around an unusual proportion: a large but fairly compact body carried…
- Wing length
- 633.8 mm
- Body mass
- 7.0 kg
Scale visual available
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arctica
The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a compact auk with a body shape that can make it look larger than its length suggests. Adults…
- Body length
- 26–29 cm
- Wingspan
- 53 cm
Scale visual available
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a large soaring bird whose apparent size comes largely from its wings. Adults are commonly measured at about…
- Body length
- 64–81 cm
- Wingspan
- 170–178 cm
Species profile
California Condor
Gymnogyps californianus
The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) combines a heavy body with exceptionally long, broad wings. Its wingspan is the measurement that most clearly defines its…
- Wing length
- 788 mm
- Body mass
- 8.4 kg
Species profile
Andean Condor
Vultur gryphus
The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) combines a body roughly a meter long with wings that can stretch more than three meters from tip to…
- Wing length
- 789.9 mm
- Body mass
- 11.2 kg
Scale visual available
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a large raptor whose size is expressed more through its wings than through a heavy body. An adult has…
- Body length
- 54–58 cm
- Wingspan
- 150–180 cm
Scale visual available
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) has the heavy, broad-winged build expected of a large buteo, but its size is easier to understand when body…
- Body length
- 45–65 cm
- Wingspan
- 114–133 cm
Scale visual available
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is the largest heron in North America, but its size is built more from length than bulk. Long…
- Body length
- 97–137 cm
- Wingspan
- 167–201 cm
Scale visual available
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is one of the largest familiar waterbirds, but its size is easy to misread because so much of its…
- Body length
- 127–152 cm
- Wingspan
- 208–238 cm
Scale visual available
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Canada Geese cover an unusually broad size range for a familiar waterbird. Adults are commonly listed at 76–110 cm (29.9–43.3 in) in body length,…
- Body length
- 76–110 cm
- Wingspan
- 127–170 cm
Scale visual available
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
A wild Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a fairly large, heavy-bodied duck. Adults are commonly about 50–65 cm (19.7–25.6 in) long, with a wingspan around…
- Body length
- 50–65 cm
- Wingspan
- 82–95 cm
Species profile
Western Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The Western Barn Owl, Tyto alba, is a medium-sized owl with proportions that make its size change noticeably with posture. An adult is commonly…
- Wing length
- 285.6 mm
- Body mass
- 403.3 g
Scale visual available
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a large passerine with a body length of about 40–53 cm (15.8–20.9 in), a wingspan of 85–100 cm…
- Body length
- 40–53 cm
- Wingspan
- 85–100 cm
Scale visual available
Common Raven
Corvus corax
The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is one of the largest passerine birds. Adult body length commonly falls around 56–69 cm (22–27 in), while recorded…
- Body length
- 56–69 cm
- Wingspan
- 116–118 cm
Species profile
Common Ostrich
Struthio camelus
The Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus, is the tallest and heaviest living bird. Adult size is striking because much of its height comes from an…
- Wing length
- 579 mm
- Body mass
- 111 kg
Species profile
Emperor Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri
The emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri, is the largest living penguin, but its size is harder to express with one number than it first appears.…
- Wing length
- 179.4 mm
- Body mass
- 33.6 kg
Species profile
Budgerigar
Melopsittacus undulatus
The Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) is a small parrot with a compact body and a remarkably long, tapered tail. That combination matters when judging its…
- Wing length
- 95.4 mm
- Body mass
- 29 g
Species profile
Gray Parrot
Psittacus erithacus
The Gray Parrot, Psittacus erithacus, is a compact, heavy-bodied parrot rather than a long, slender one. An adult is commonly reported at about 33…
- Wing length
- 232.3 mm
- Body mass
- 333 g
Species profile
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao
The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a large parrot whose size is easy to misread. Adult references commonly place total length around 84–89 cm…
- Wing length
- 393.7 mm
- Body mass
- 1.0 kg
Species profile
Cockatiel
Nymphicus hollandicus
An adult Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is usually about 30–33 cm (12–13 in) long, yet its body mass is commonly around the weight of a…
- Wing length
- 167.3 mm
- Body mass
- 94.6 g
Species profile
Toco Toucan
Ramphastos toco
The Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) is the largest member of the toucan family, but much of its apparent size comes from one feature: the…
- Wing length
- 242.2 mm
- Body mass
- 618 g
Species profile
Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus roseus
The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the largest and tallest living flamingo species. Its size comes less from a bulky body than from its…
- Wing length
- 399 mm
- Body mass
- 3.0 kg
Species profile
Indian Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus have an unusual size profile because the adult male carries a long ornamental train that can nearly double the length…
- Wing length
- 445.2 mm
- Body mass
- 4.2 kg
Scale visual available
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a medium-sized songbird whose proportions make it look more substantial than many birds of similar mass. Standard references…
- Body length
- 21–23 cm
- Wingspan
- 25–31 cm
Scale visual available
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a large, strongly built thrush with proportions that make it look substantial even among familiar backyard songbirds. Adults…
- Body length
- 20–28 cm
- Wingspan
- 31–40 cm
Scale visual available
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is one of North America’s smallest birds, but a single size figure does not describe it very well. Published…
- Body length
- 7–9 cm
- Wingspan
- 8–11 cm
Scale visual available
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) have a compact, heavy-looking build that can make them seem larger than their actual length suggests. Adults typically combine a…
- Body length
- 30–36 cm
- Wingspan
- 50–67 cm
Scale visual available
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a small songbird with a compact, deep-bodied build. Adults are commonly about 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in) long, with…
- Body length
- 15–17 cm
- Wingspan
- 19–25 cm
Scale visual available
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a large, crested songbird with a body plan that can make it appear heavier than it is. Most…
- Body length
- 25–30 cm
- Wingspan
- 34–43 cm
Scale visual available
Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus
The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) combines a large frame with unusually dense feathering, so its visible bulk does not come from skeletal size alone.…
- Body length
- 52–71 cm
- Wingspan
- 126–145 cm
Scale visual available
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) has the heavy, compact build expected of one of the larger owls of the Americas. Adults are broad…
- Body length
- 46–63 cm
- Wingspan
- 101–145 cm
Scale visual available
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is often described as crow-sized, but that shorthand hides an unusually broad spread of body sizes. A small male…
- Body length
- 36–49 cm
- Wingspan
- 100–110 cm
Scale visual available
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) combines a large body with long, broad wings and an unusually long-tailed profile for an eagle of its size.…
- Body length
- 70–84 cm
- Wingspan
- 185–220 cm
Scale visual available
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a very large North American raptor with a heavy body, broad wings, a large head, and a long…
- Body length
- 71–96 cm
- Wingspan
- 204 cm