Ontogeny Recapitulates Ornithology
Since I got the news that I'm going to be an aunt, I've found myself becoming interested in fetal development. This is not a subject I had previously given much any thought to. As I count down the weeks until I meet my future nephew, I've been keeping track of his size using the customary fruits and vegetables that websites suggest. This is problematic because vegetables are variable in size and also boring. My mind went instead to birds. I started looking up a bird that matched the mass* of the fetus each week, much to the possibly feigned delight of my pregnant sister. I now present a full list for the enjoyment of pregnant folks and the birders who love them.
* Note that most birds are less dense that a fetus, and therefore greater in size at the same mass.
Week: 9
Mass: 2 g
Bird: Bumblebee Hummingbird
Week: 10
Mass: 4 g
Bird: Anna's Hummingbird
Week: 11
Mass: 7 g
Bird: Wilson's Warbler
Week: 12
Mass: 14 g
Bird: Vermillion Flycatcher
Week: 13
Mass: 23 g
Bird: Tree Swallow
Week: 14
Mass: 43 g
Bird: Snowy Plover
Week: 15
Mass: 70 g
Bird: Northern Pygmy-Owl
Week: 16
Mass: 100 g
Bird: Green Jay
Week: 17
Mass: 140 g
Bird: Burrowing Owl
Week: 18
Mass: 190 g
Bird: Merlin
Week: 19
Mass: 240 g
Bird: Purple Gallinule
Week: 20
Mass: 300 g
Bird: Long-tailed Jaeger
Week: 21
Mass: 360 g
Bird: White-tailed Ptarmigan
Week: 22
Mass: 430 g
Bird: Swallow-tailed Kite
Week: 23
Mass: 501 g
Bird: Bristle-thighed Curlew
Week: 24
Mass: 600 g
Bird: Spotted Owl
Week: 25
Mass: 660 g
Bird: Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Week: 26
Mass: 760 g
Bird: Tufted Puffin
Week: 27
Mass: 875 g
Bird: Swainson's Hawk
Week: 28
Mass: 1005 g
Bird: Western Gull
Week: 29
Mass: 1153 g
Bird: Common Raven
Week: 30
Mass: 1319 g
Bird: Anhinga
Week: 31
Mass: 1502 g
Bird: Roseate Spoonbill
Week: 33
Mass: 1918 g
Bird: Turkey Vulture
Week: 34
Mass: 2146 g
Bird: Common Eider
Week: 35
Mass: 2383 g
Bird: Wood Stork
Week: 36
Mass: 2622 g
Bird: Arctic Loon
Week: 37
Mass: 2859 g
Bird: Greater Sage-Grouse (male)
Week: 38
Mass: 3083 g
Bird: Laysan Albatross
Week: 39
Mass: 3288 g
Bird: Lesser Sandhill Crane
Week: 40
Mass: 3462 g
Bird: Brown Pelican
Sources:
www.babycenter.com
The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Ed., by David Sibley, 2014
* Note that most birds are less dense that a fetus, and therefore greater in size at the same mass.
 |
| PC: Gregory Smith |
Week: 9
Mass: 2 g
Bird: Bumblebee Hummingbird
 |
| PC: Eric Carlson |
Week: 10
Mass: 4 g
Bird: Anna's Hummingbird
 |
| PC: Francesco Veronesi |
Week: 11
Mass: 7 g
Bird: Wilson's Warbler
 |
| PC: James Diedrick |
Week: 12
Mass: 14 g
Bird: Vermillion Flycatcher
 |
| PC: Eric Carlson |
Week: 13
Mass: 23 g
Bird: Tree Swallow
 |
| PC: Eric Carlson |
Week: 14
Mass: 43 g
Bird: Snowy Plover
 |
| PC: Eric Carlson |
Week: 15
Mass: 70 g
Bird: Northern Pygmy-Owl
 |
| PC: Andy Morffew |
Week: 16
Mass: 100 g
Bird: Green Jay
 |
| PC: Eric Carlson |
Week: 17
Mass: 140 g
Bird: Burrowing Owl
 |
| PC: USFWS |
Week: 18
Mass: 190 g
Bird: Merlin
 |
| PC: Judy Gallagher |
Week: 19
Mass: 240 g
Bird: Purple Gallinule
 |
| PC: Jerry Kirkhart |
Week: 20
Mass: 300 g
Bird: Long-tailed Jaeger
 |
| PC: Ron Knight |
Week: 21
Mass: 360 g
Bird: White-tailed Ptarmigan
 |
| PC: Andy Morffew |
Week: 22
Mass: 430 g
Bird: Swallow-tailed Kite
 |
| PC: Bettina Arrigoni |
Week: 23
Mass: 501 g
Bird: Bristle-thighed Curlew
 |
| PC: USFS |
Week: 24
Mass: 600 g
Bird: Spotted Owl
 |
| PC: David Alvarez Lopez |
Week: 25
Mass: 660 g
Bird: Fulvous Whistling-Duck
 |
| PC: Ingrid Taylar |
Week: 26
Mass: 760 g
Bird: Tufted Puffin
 |
| PC: Great Sand Dunes NP |
Week: 27
Mass: 875 g
Bird: Swainson's Hawk
 |
| PC: Stephen Lester |
Week: 28
Mass: 1005 g
Bird: Western Gull
 |
| PC: Eric Carlson |
Week: 29
Mass: 1153 g
Bird: Common Raven
 |
| PC: Cuatrok77 |
Week: 30
Mass: 1319 g
Bird: Anhinga
 |
| PC: Eric Carlson |
Week: 31
Mass: 1502 g
Bird: Roseate Spoonbill
 |
| PC: Ozzy Delaney |
Week: 32
Mass: 1702 g
Bird: Barnacle Goose
 |
| PC: Bob Peterson |
Week: 33
Mass: 1918 g
Bird: Turkey Vulture
 |
| PC: Silver Leapers |
Week: 34
Mass: 2146 g
Bird: Common Eider
 |
| PC: Cuatrok77 |
Week: 35
Mass: 2383 g
Bird: Wood Stork
 |
| PC: Francesco Veronesi |
Week: 36
Mass: 2622 g
Bird: Arctic Loon
 |
| PC: USFWS |
Week: 37
Mass: 2859 g
Bird: Greater Sage-Grouse (male)
 |
| PC: Bettina Arrigoni |
Week: 38
Mass: 3083 g
Bird: Laysan Albatross
 |
| PC: BLM |
Week: 39
Mass: 3288 g
Bird: Lesser Sandhill Crane
 |
| PC: M. J. Taylor |
Week: 40
Mass: 3462 g
Bird: Brown Pelican
Sources:
www.babycenter.com
The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Ed., by David Sibley, 2014
Oh holy crow. This is so clever and so illuminating!! As a two time mom, I was OK with the bee Hummingbird, but couldn't help wincing at the thought of bringing forth a brown pelican. Actually the Raven gave me pause. And I thought about the turkey vulture and was amazed that it outweighs a male snowy owl. Thank you Sarah! Sibley's weights and wingspans are two of my favorite features of his miraculous work. This is the bomb!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment!
DeleteNot only are you a crack birder person and stellar (Steller?) birdathon cap'n, and a great writer, but you're a complete goof. I like that in a person.
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks Murr. I also appreciate your dedication to goofiness.
DeleteI was rooting for the stork...
ReplyDeleteGross.
ReplyDeleteBut also, mass-wise, 7.17 Burrowing Owls fit in one Western Gull? My mind can't handle this information.
Bird mass is a very weird thing. Those feathers really make comparisons difficult. Apparently owls are mostly made of air.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all these incredible photos of all these gorgeous birds. So many have such beautiful coloring. We hope your are having a wonderful start to your week.
ReplyDeleteWorld of Animals
very nice shot
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Very clever! My next pregnant friend...I'm totally referring them to this.
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