Smallest flightless bird
- Who
- Unknown
- What
- 40 gram(s)
- When
- 01 January 0001
The Inaccessible Island rail (Atlantisia rogersi) of Inaccessible Island, South Atlantic, weighs a mere 40g (1 2/5oz). First discovered in 1870, and described as being the size of a 3-day-old black chicken, the adult birds are a dark chestnut brown above and grey-brown below. The males are darker than the females, but both adult birds have fiery-red eyes.
Only found on this island, the rail shares its home with the Wandering Albatross (largest flying bird). The only people to have ringed the smallest flightless bird and the largest flying bird ar Mike Fraser (UK) and Peter Ryan (South Africa).
If still alive, the world's smallest flightless bird would have been the tiny wren inhabiting Stephen Island off New Zealand. Discovered in 1894, this species was supposedly wiped out by a lighthouse-keeper's cat.
If still alive, the world's smallest flightless bird would have been the tiny wren inhabiting Stephen Island off New Zealand. Discovered in 1894, this species was supposedly wiped out by a lighthouse-keeper's cat.