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christineredgate · Thursday 23rd September 2004, 21:13

Have been looking at some pics in the gallery,in particular a curlew (by Paul S),and just wondered which bird has the longest bill.Does anyone know,please?.
Thankyou.

Andrew · Thursday 23rd September 2004, 21:19

Not sure what it is but proportionately to it's body the Swordbill or something like that takes some beating. Some flowers eveloved to create longer trumpets and the bird in turn evolved to have a longer bill to reach the parts other birds can not reach!

Edward woodwood · Thursday 23rd September 2004, 22:10

sword-biled hummer wrt to body length

i posted it somewhere - will try to find the pix

here it is

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.ph...71&postcount=7

what a bird!

Bluetail · Thursday 23rd September 2004, 22:12

In absolute terms, maybe one of the storks???

christineredgate · Thursday 23rd September 2004, 23:03

Thanks everyone.Yes,the proportion of the swordbill's beak to it's body is very outsized.But as Jason suggested does one of the Stork family have the largest overall bill?.
It is a wonder that little sword billed hummer does not overbalance,that is an incredible photo,thankyou,Tim.

Adey Baker · Thursday 23rd September 2004, 23:17

What about Spoonbills, they seem to have a fair-sized bill?

Hanno · Thursday 23rd September 2004, 23:49

At a guess? Giant Ibis.

Edward woodwood · Friday 24th September 2004, 08:42

I was just gonna suggest that Hanno when i saw your name on the thread

not many pix of this fantastic bird although we did get a few into some recent OBC publications, notably the cover of a recent Forktail....

here's the pic that graced Forktail 2003 cover.

jurek · Friday 24th September 2004, 08:53

According to Guinness Book of Records, in cm it is Australian Pelican, in relation to body - the Sword-billed Hummingbird.

Bluetail · Friday 24th September 2004, 17:54

That's that settled then. Thanks, Jurek.

christineredgate · Friday 24th September 2004, 20:39

Thanks,everyone,very interesting.

Jos Stratford · Saturday 25th September 2004, 18:31

Sorry to divert this - I reckon the 'biggest' bill for birds is the huge sum I spent on keeping the local population well-fed when the temps hit the mega sub-zeros!! :)

Mickymouse · Saturday 25th September 2004, 21:32

When I read the title of this thread it reminded me of my ex-wife.

Mick

christineredgate · Saturday 25th September 2004, 22:11

Jos and Mickey thankyou,very good!!.I think my husband may say the" biggest bill"is my spend on photo stuff!!.But it is all in a good cause and keeps me happy.

Mickymouse · Saturday 25th September 2004, 22:23

BTW I must say I was only joking about my ex, that was never her problem and we are still friends, boring post but felt obliged to make it.

Mick

David Bryant · Sunday 26th September 2004, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickymouse

BTW I must say I was only joking about my ex, that was never her problem and we are still friends, boring post but felt obliged to make it.
Mick

Well: as they say: 'Why is a solicitor like a Spoonbill? Because they can BOTH stick their bills up their ar*es!'

Thursday 23rd September 2004, 21:13	#1
christineredgate Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of the Year Comp 2009/2010 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Haverigg,South Cumbria Posts: 31,927 My location	Which bird has the longest Bill? Have been looking at some pics in the gallery,in particular a curlew (by Paul S),and just wondered which bird has the longest bill.Does anyone know,please?. Thankyou. __________________ Haverigg.net Ride Free,Fly Free. Avatar by Tracker(Tom) Christine
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Thursday 23rd September 2004, 21:19	#2
Andrew wibble wibble Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Devon. UK. Posts: 11,364	Not sure what it is but proportionately to it's body the Swordbill or something like that takes some beating. Some flowers eveloved to create longer trumpets and the bird in turn evolved to have a longer bill to reach the parts other birds can not reach! __________________ Are you listening to the voice that talks in your head while you read this?

Thursday 23rd September 2004, 22:10	#3
Edward woodwood Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 11,309	sword-biled hummer wrt to body length i posted it somewhere - will try to find the pix here it is http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.ph...71&postcount=7 what a bird! Last edited by Edward woodwood : Thursday 23rd September 2004 at 22:14.

Thursday 23rd September 2004, 22:12	#4
Bluetail Senior Moment Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Plymouth, Devon Posts: 6,409	In absolute terms, maybe one of the storks??? __________________ Jason Come doleful owl, the messenger of woe, Melancholy's bird, companion of Despair, Sorrow's best friend and Mirth's professed foe The chief discourser that delights sad Care. O come, poor owl, and tell thy woes to me. Which having heard, I'll do the like for thee. (Anon c.1607)
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Thursday 23rd September 2004, 23:03	#5
christineredgate Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of the Year Comp 2009/2010 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Haverigg,South Cumbria Posts: 31,927 My location	Thanks everyone.Yes,the proportion of the swordbill's beak to it's body is very outsized.But as Jason suggested does one of the Stork family have the largest overall bill?. It is a wonder that little sword billed hummer does not overbalance,that is an incredible photo,thankyou,Tim. __________________ Haverigg.net Ride Free,Fly Free. Avatar by Tracker(Tom) Christine
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Thursday 23rd September 2004, 23:17	#6
Adey Baker Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hinckley, Leics Posts: 4,761	What about Spoonbills, they seem to have a fair-sized bill?
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Thursday 23rd September 2004, 23:49	#7
Hanno Ho Ho Ho Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia Posts: 2,034 My location	At a guess? Giant Ibis. __________________ Hanno "Time is never wasted when you're wasted all the time." Catherine Zandonella. Check out http://www.hannostamm.com/ for birding in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, Bhutan, Taiwan, and Northern India.
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Friday 24th September 2004, 08:42	#8
Edward woodwood Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 11,309	I was just gonna suggest that Hanno when i saw your name on the thread not many pix of this fantastic bird although we did get a few into some recent OBC publications, notably the cover of a recent Forktail.... here's the pic that graced Forktail 2003 cover. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Edward woodwood : Friday 24th September 2004 at 08:44.

Friday 24th September 2004, 08:53	#9
jurek Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Amsterdam/Warszawa Posts: 2,904	According to Guinness Book of Records, in cm it is Australian Pelican, in relation to body - the Sword-billed Hummingbird.

Friday 24th September 2004, 17:54	#10
Bluetail Senior Moment Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Plymouth, Devon Posts: 6,409	That's that settled then. Thanks, Jurek. __________________ Jason Come doleful owl, the messenger of woe, Melancholy's bird, companion of Despair, Sorrow's best friend and Mirth's professed foe The chief discourser that delights sad Care. O come, poor owl, and tell thy woes to me. Which having heard, I'll do the like for thee. (Anon c.1607)
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Friday 24th September 2004, 20:39	#11
christineredgate Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of the Year Comp 2009/2010 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Haverigg,South Cumbria Posts: 31,927 My location	Thanks,everyone,very interesting. __________________ Haverigg.net Ride Free,Fly Free. Avatar by Tracker(Tom) Christine
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Saturday 25th September 2004, 18:31	#12
Jos Stratford Pondering the next... Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Exile in East Europe Posts: 11,530	Sorry to divert this - I reckon the 'biggest' bill for birds is the huge sum I spent on keeping the local population well-fed when the temps hit the mega sub-zeros!! :) __________________ For photographs and articles, Lithuania and beyond, click here for my website
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Saturday 25th September 2004, 21:32	#13
Mickymouse Ubuntu Linux user Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ramsgate, Kent Posts: 2,563 My location	When I read the title of this thread it reminded me of my ex-wife. Mick __________________ The World's Need So many Gods, so many creeds, So many paths that wind and wind, When just the art of being kind Is all this sad world needs. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 to 1919)
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Saturday 25th September 2004, 22:11	#14
christineredgate Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of the Year Comp 2009/2010 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Haverigg,South Cumbria Posts: 31,927 My location	Jos and Mickey thankyou,very good!!.I think my husband may say the" biggest bill"is my spend on photo stuff!!.But it is all in a good cause and keeps me happy. __________________ Haverigg.net Ride Free,Fly Free. Avatar by Tracker(Tom) Christine
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Saturday 25th September 2004, 22:23	#15
Mickymouse Ubuntu Linux user Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ramsgate, Kent Posts: 2,563 My location	BTW I must say I was only joking about my ex, that was never her problem and we are still friends, boring post but felt obliged to make it. Mick __________________ The World's Need So many Gods, so many creeds, So many paths that wind and wind, When just the art of being kind Is all this sad world needs. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 to 1919)
	Click here to Support BirdForum

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