The question "Who lays big eggs?" can be interpreted in different ways. Here's a breakdown of different answers based on the size of the egg compared to the mother and the absolute size of the egg:
Who Lays the Biggest Eggs in Absolute Size?
When considering the sheer size of an egg, ostriches lay the largest bird eggs in the world. However, it's essential to understand that "big" can be relative.
Here is a table showing the size of ostrich eggs compared to other bird eggs.
| Bird | Egg Description |
|---|---|
| Ostrich | World's largest bird egg |
| Kiwi | Eggs are six times bigger than other birds of the same size |
Who Lays Big Eggs Relative to Their Body Size?
Interestingly, while an ostrich lays the largest absolute size of an egg, it's not the largest relative to the mother's body size. Ostrich eggs are only about 2% of the mother's body weight.
Here is some data on eggs in proportion to the mother's weight:
- Kiwi birds lay eggs that are disproportionately large. Kiwi eggs are six times bigger than other birds of the same size.
- For comparison, a human baby at full term is about 5% of its mother's body weight.
Conclusion
Therefore, when we talk about "big eggs" we need to be specific. Ostriches lay the biggest eggs in absolute size but kiwis lay the biggest eggs relative to their body size.
