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Ancient ‘demon ducks’ may have been undone by their slow growth

Australia once had horse-sized mihirung birds, but the lineage vanished about 40,000 years ago

illustration of 'demon ducks' eating in a grassland. The ducks are huge with red and black beaks

The extinct flightless bird Dromornis stirtoni (illustrated) may have taken at least 15 years to grow to full size. It was a predecessor to a species of bird of the same family, which grew a bit faster, but not much; that slow growth was a potential liability once humans started eating the birds and their eggs.

Peter Trusler

By Jake Buehler

- More than 2 years ago

Giant flightless birds called mihirungs were the biggest birds to ever stride across what is now Australia.