Birds are a large family, and they are the general term for all animals in the entire class of birds. The existing bird class is divided into 33 different orders, and the members of all orders exceed 10,000 species, and there are countless subspecies. The life spans of different birds are also quite different.
According to research, there is a certain relationship between bird size and lifespan, and they are almost directly proportional. For example, the average lifespan of small birds is generally 2-5 years, the average lifespan of medium-sized birds is between 5-15 years, and the average lifespan of large birds is more than 15 years.
The lifespan of birds is also related to changes in the natural environment, the amount of food, and the number of natural enemies. Therefore, under natural conditions, the fierce natural competition, the invasion of natural enemies, the occurrence of diseases, the sudden changes of natural climate and the occurrence of natural accidents are closely related to their lifespan.
Shortest-lived bird
At present, among all birds, the hummingbird has the shortest lifespan, followed by the kingfisher. Hummingbirds are small birds, their average body length is only about 8 cm, and the maximum does not exceed 13 cm. Unlike other birds, more than 90 percent of a hummingbird's food is nectar. Of course, not all hummingbirds have short lifespans. There are more than 350 different hummingbirds under the family Hummingbird. Among them, the smallest hummingbird is the bee-sucking bird. Its body length is only about 5 cm on average, and its weight is only about 2 grams. The average lifespan is only about 1 year, and even the shortest kingfisher has 2 years.
Longest-lived bird
The longest-lived bird in the world is the Andean condor from the Andes. Andean condors can live up to 70 years. The Andean condor is the longest-lived bird in the world and one of the most aggressive birds of prey on the American continent.
The following is an introduction to the lifespan of some common birds:
1.Red-crowned crane
The red-crowned crane is one of the cranes, named after the "red-fleshed crown" on its head. It is a bird species endemic to East Asia. Sexual maturity at the age of 2 and a life expectancy of about 50 to 60 years.
2.African ostrich
The chicks of African ostriches mature late, reaching sexual maturity at the age of 3, with a lifespan of 30-40 years.
3.Blue peacock
Blue peacocks mature late and begin to mature at 22 weeks of age. The lifespan is longer, about 20 to 25 years.
4.Lorikeets
Lorikeets have brightly colored feathers and feed mainly on pollen, nectar and fruit. Their internal structure is also very special, and they have a special digestive enzyme in their body to break down food. Lorikeets generally live about 20 years.
5.Flamingo
Flamingo chicks have gray filamentous down feathers, gray legs, and a straight, not curved bill. As they grow up, their beaks slowly curve. By two and a half months, the juveniles are able to learn to fly, and after a year they are almost the same size as adults, but remain gray in color, and do not turn red until the third year, when they reach sexual maturity. Lifespan is about 20-30 years.
In captivity, some birds are protected from predators. Birds therefore have the guarantee of sufficient food and nutrition, plus certain medical conditions and the rare occurrence of natural accidents and accidents, so they generally live longer. According to statistics, under artificial feeding conditions, the lifespan of large birds can be extended to 30-50 years, medium-sized birds can generally live 20-30 years, and small birds can generally live 10-15 years.