Re: Altitude effects on hummingbird flight?

[Tommy Tyrberg <tommy.tyrberg@norrkoping.mail.telia.com>]

At 21:46 2006-12-21, Michael Habib wrote:
> > I've not checked to see which is the largest bird known to make use of 
> > the technique, but they are quite big relative to hummingbirds and most bats.
>
> I'm not sure either, but I suspect it is Buteo jamaicensis.  The mass 
> records for B. jamaicensis specimens used in my bone strength dataset 
> range from 784 to 1460 grams.  The 1,460 gram individual was a large 
> female, but probably not the maximum size.  It gives a ballpark, at any rate.
>
> Cheers,
>
> --Mike H.

Ospreys are inveterate hoverers and can do it for quite long periods. They 
weigh up to about 2 kilos.

Tommy Tyrberg