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Birding/Worlds 2nd Largest Bird

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Expert: - 8/15/2008


Question
Hi Roger,

My friend and I have come across the same Beer Lid at our local pub and there was almost a brawl in deciding what the 2nd largest bird was.  Do you have any answers that can help prevent a beating.  We thought the 2nd largest bird was the emu, but the beer lid said it was the 3rd.  Also, the fight was on as to where the Emporer Penguin stands in the largest bird scale.

Thanks
Jodie

Answer
It depends on your criteria - tallest, greatest wingspan, weight, biggest flying bird, etc. By height, it's the Emu. The cassowary is third and the Common Rhea and Emperor Penguin are a tie for 4th. But it depends on what reference you read and which species you are talking about. Female cassowaries are taller than males as well. So it's not totally clear.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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