Birding Questions & Answers

 

Question: What is Southwest Florida's largest native bird, by weight?

Answer: Two native birds are close to a tie for the honor.

The average White Pelican typically weighs 16.4 pounds and the average Wild Turkey typically weighs 16.2 pounds.

Other large Southwest Florida birds and their weights:

• Sand Hill Crane (10.6 lbs.)
• Bald Eagle (9.5 lbs.)
• Brown Pelican (8.2 lbs.)
• Muscovy Duck (6.6 lbs.)
• Wood Stork (5.3 lbs.)
• Great Blue Heron (5.3 lbs.)
• Great Horned Owl (3.1 lbs.)

Weights are from Sibley's Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America