Which bird lays the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world?

A kiwi lays the biggest egg. Kiwi eggs are six times bigger than normal for a bird of its size. Proportional to its own body size the kiwi egg takes up approximately 20% of the mother’s body weight. While laying such a large egg would be painful, there is an advantage. Most bird eggs are 35-40% yolk but the kiwi’s egg is a 65% yolk.

While an ostrich may lay the world’s largest bird’s egg, it is actually the smallest in proportion to the mothers at just 2% of her body weight.

Kiwis are found in New Zealand, and are a flightless bird. Kiwi feathers are like hair, has nostrils at the end of its beak, and an enormous egg. Kiwis are omnivores, and are nocturnal.

More Info: www.kiwisforkiwi.org

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19 Comments

Georgia Kemp

Louella Wilson, This is incorrect. They were thought to be because probably the feathers resemble emus' feathers. DNA analysis shows the kiwi's closest relatives are the tinamous of South America.

Georgia Kemp

There was a joke when I was a kid in the 70's that the kiwi was the ooh-aah bird.

james parrillo

James Webb, Are you thinking of a platypus? Thank you, Christine, James' wife

earlepg

Unfortunately 37% seem to read "largest egg" and missed "for its size".

Steve Tingle

I did hear that as a point of interest the Kiwi has the shortest beak of all the birds - the official way a beak is measured is from the nostrils to the pointed end - in just about all other birds the nostrils are at the head end of the beak, so despite it being quite a long beak the Kiwi with the nostrils near the end misses out.

Louella Wilson

Kiwis are closely related to emus and cassowaries. While kiwis are far smaller, their eggs are of a similar size.

Stephen Knapp

kiwi's The kiwi's egg is huge. In proportion to its body size, the female kiwi lays a bigger egg than almost any other bird. In fact, kiwi eggs are six-times as big as normal for a bird of its size.