RE: bird sizes

[Eric Martichuski <herewiss13@hotmail.com>]

> If one were to plot a selection of bird sizes (height or weight) would 
> there be a continuous bell >curve? or would there be a number of spikes of 
> "preferred" sizes?

Interesting question.  My own, completely unsupported, opinion would be that 
you'd see a number of spikes, each roughly corresponding to the idea size 
for a specific ecological niche.  However, there'd be so _many_ different 
niche-spikes that the sum total would closely approximate a bell curve of 
its own.  It'd be a skewed bell-curve, IMO, because the average bird-size 
(say...something like a robin or starling) is, in general, closer to 
hummingbird than to condor (the two extremes).

Of course, actual data is always nice. ;-)

Eric
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"There is no other wisdom,
And no other hope for us
But that we grow wise. -- Diane Duane
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