Which bird lays the largest eggs of any living bird?

The ostrich lays the largest eggs of any living bird.

A single ostrich egg can weigh around 1.4 kilograms, although size varies. Its thick, glossy shell helps protect the developing embryo in the open environments where ostriches breed. The egg is enormous compared with other living bird eggs, though it is relatively small compared with the size of the adult bird.

Ostriches usually lay their eggs in a communal nest, a shallow scrape in the ground. A dominant female may place her eggs in the centre, where they receive better protection. Both sexes incubate the eggs, with the male commonly taking the night shift because his darker plumage provides camouflage after sunset.

The common ostrich is Africa’s largest and heaviest living bird. It cannot fly, but its powerful legs allow it to run rapidly. Ostrich eggs are often confused with the much larger eggs of the extinct elephant birds, which no longer exist.