What is the average lifespan of a bird?

It is difficult to get an accurate figure on the lifespan of wild birds, says the American Bird Conservancy.

However, usually, the larger the bird species, the longer it lives. Therefore, the Ostrich in the Struthionidae family, lives longer than the House Sparrow in the Passeridae family. 

For example, the large Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) in the Diomedeidae family, with the longest wingspan of any bird on Earth – up to 350 centimetres (11.5 feet) across – can live up to 80 years.

The American Bird Conservancy says that birds live between 4 and 100 years. Although, 75% of wild bird species live for less than one year, says Malcom Penny in his book on Birds published in 2000. 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM