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Bird erythrocyte sizes

NOTE: These are size measurements for avian erythrocytes (red blood cells).  Erythrocytes in birds are elliptical, and as such two different diameters are provided: CLD ("cell long diameter") and CSD ("cell short diameter").  NLD ("nucleus long diameter") and NSD ("nucleus short diameter") are also provided where available.  In both cases, the diameters were measured from dry smears.  These were used to calculate dry cell area (CA) and dry nucleus area (NA) using the equation for elliptical area: CA = pi * (CLD/2) * (CSD/2).   Diameters are in µm and areas are in µm2.  Data from two other studies which were not included in this initial table will be added at a later date.
Species and taxonomic information   
CLD   
CSD  
CA     
Ref   
NLD  
NSD  
NA    
Ref   
CLASS AVES
ORDER Anseriformes
Family Anatidae
Aix galericulata 13.1 7.4 76.40 1
Aix sponsa 12.7 6.2 62.08 1
Alopochen aegyptiacus 13.6 6.6 70.73 1
Anas acuta 12.7 6.6 66.23 1
Anas crecca 12.3 5.5 53.51 1
Anas penelope 13.6 5.8 61.69 1
Anas querquedula 12.6 6.6 65.73 1
Branta sandvicensis 13.6 6.6 70.73 1
Cereopsis novaehollandiae 14.8 6.9 79.70 1
Chloephaga picta leucoptera 13.6 6.6 70.73 1
Cygnus atratus 14.1 6.9 75.99 1
Dendrocygna arborea 13.2 6.8 70.46 1
Dendrocygna autumnalis 13.3 6.7 70.26 1
Dendrocygna viduata 14.2 7.1 79.67 1
Somateria mollissima 12.7 7.9 79.17 1
ORDER Apodiformes
Family Apodidae
Apus apus 12.8 6.6 66.40 1 6.4 2.4 11.88 1
Family Trochilidae
Amazilia edward 11.4 6.0 53.72 2 5.7 2.0 8.95 2
Amazilia tzacatl 11.2 6.4 56.30 2 5.7 2.6 11.32 2
Anthrocothorax nigricollis 10.7 6.4 53.78 2 5.2 2.6 10.62 2
Campylopterus hemileucurus 11.1 5.6 48.82 2 5.0 1.8 7.07 2
Damophila julie 10.9 6.1 52.22 2 5.2 2.6 10.62 2
Glaucis hirsuta 12.2 6.9 66.11 2 6.2 2.8 13.63 2
Heliodoxa jacula 12.3 6.3 60.86 2 6.0 2.1 9.90 2
Phaethornis guy 11.8 6.7 61.37 2 4.9 2.1 8.00 2
Selasphorus scintilla 10.7 6.1 51.26 2 5.7 2.5 11.19 2
Thalurania furcata.
 11.3 6.4 56.80 2 5.5 2.1 9.07 2
Trochilus sp.
 9.5
 6.4
 47.62
 1
ORDER Caprimulgiformes
Family Caprimulgidae
Nyctidromus albicollis 13.6 8.3 88.66 2 6.3 3.3 16.33 2
Family Nyctibiidae
Nyctibius griseus 13.8 8.0 86.17 2 6.4 3.4 16.71 2
Family Podargidae
Podargus strigoides 13.8 7.9 86.34 1
ORDER Casuariiformes
Family Dromaiidae
Dromaius novaehollandiae 15.0 8.4 98.92 1
ORDER Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae
Charadrius wilsonia 12.8 7.3 73.39 2 5.8 2.4 10.93 2
Family Haematopodidae
Haematopus ostralegus 13.4 6.4 66.85 1 7.9 2.8 17.59 1
Family Jacanidae
Jacana spinosa 13.7 7.5 80.70 2 5.9 3.7 17.15 2
Family Laridae
Larus canus 12.9 6.6 66.90 1 7.1 2.4 13.36 1
Larus ridibundus 12.1 6.4 60.41 1
Family Recurvirostridae
Himantopus mexicanus 12.8 6.9 69.37 2 5.8 2.5 11.39 2
Family Scolopacidae
Gallinago gallinago 11.7 7.0 64.47 1
Limosa limosa melanuroides 13.1 7.8 80.15 1
Numenius phaeops 13.8 5.7 61.48 1
ORDER Ciconiiformes
Family Ardeidae
Ardea cinerea 13.3 7.3 75.87 1
Ardea herodias 14.3 7.4 83.11 2 5.8 3.0 13.67 2
Butoroides striatus virescens 13.0 8.3 84.74 2 6.0 2.9 13.67 2
Egretta alba 15.0 7.9 93.07 2 6.7 3.3 17.37 2
" " 14.5 7.4 83.96 1
Egretta caerulea 12.8 7.3 73.39 2 6.1 3.0 14.37 2
Egretta thula 13.1 7.7 79.22 2 5.2 2.6 10.62 2
Ixobrychus minutus minutus 12.7 6.6 66.43 1
Nycticorax nycticorax 14.3 7.1 80.08 1
Tigrisoma lineatum 15.8 10.2 126.57 2 7.0 2.9 15.94 2
Family Ciconiidae
Ciconia nigra 14.1 7.5 82.45 1
Leptoptilos crumeniferus 13.7 7.3 78.78 1
Family Threskiornithidae
Platalea leucorodia 13.7 7.1 75.71 1
ORDER Columbiformes
Family Columbidae
Caloenas nicobarica 11.9 6.9 64.34 1
Columba corensis 11.6 7.0 63.37 1
Columba guinea 11.7 6.6 60.97 1
Columba leucocephala 11.9 7.0 65.19 1
Columba palumbus 12.9 7.0 70.50 1
Columbina minuta 12.3 7.4 71.49 2 5.9 2.5 11.58 2
Columbina talpacoti 11.6 7.0 63.77 2 6.4 2.4 12.06 2
Ectopistes migratoria 13.3 5.5 57.38 1
Geotrygon linearis chiriquensis 12.6 7.3 72.24 2 6.0 3.1 14.37 2
Geotrygon montana 11.3 6.9 61.30 1 4.8 2.1 7.92 1
Geotrygon mystacea 12.1 7.2 68.70 1
Goura cristata 13.0 7.3 74.28 1
Phaps chalcoptera 11.5 6.3 56.50 1
Streptopelia chinensis 12.2 7.0 67.13 1
Streptopelia decaocto 11.9 7.2 67.43 1
Streptopelia turtur 12.7 7.5 75.01 1
Zenaida aurita 11.2 7.2 63.22 1
ORDER Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae
Alcedo atthis 12.0 6.9 64.60 1
Chloroceryle aenea 12.6 6.7 66.30 2 6.5 2.9 14.80 2
Chloroceryle amazona 13.9 7.8 84.61 2 6.5 2.9 14.69 2
Dacelo novaeguineae 12.0 7.1 67.55 1
Family Bucerotidae
Buceros rhinoceros 15.0 7.9 92.83 1
Tockus leucomelas 12.7 7.9 79.17 1
Family Coraciidae
Coracias garrulus 12.7 7.3 72.84 1
ORDER Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae
Crotophaga ani 12.9 6.9 69.91 2 5.8 2.9 13.21 2
Crotophaga major 12.0 8.1 76.34 2 5.5 3.4 14.69 2
Cuculus canorus 12.5 7.1 69.40 1
Piaya cayana 13.7 7.9 85.00 2 6.2 2.9 14.12 2
ORDER Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae
Accipiter cooperii 14.3 8.1 90.97 2 6.2 2.4 11.69 2
Accipiter nisus 12.7 7.1 71.27 1 7.9 2.8 17.28 1
Aegyptius tracheliotus 13.8 7.3 79.78 1 6.4 2.4 11.88 1
Aquila audax 13.7 7.3 78.51 1
Aquila chrysaetos 14.0 6.6 72.97 1
Buteo jamaicensis borealis 13.5 6.6 69.72 3 5.9 2.5 11.39 3
Buteo lagopus 13.7 6.9 74.13 1
Buteo platypterus 13.6 7.7 81.94 2 5.9 2.7 12.41 2
Buteo swainsonii 13.7 6.9 74.13 1
Geranoaetus melanoleucus 14.1 7.1 78.26 1
Gypaetus barbatus 13.3 7.4 77.34 1
Gypohierax angolensis 15.1 8.0 95.04 1
Gyps coprotheres 14.2 7.6 84.64 1
Gyps fulvus 13.9 7.5 81.51 1
Haliaeetus albicilla 13.9 7.5 81.72 1
Haliaeetus leucocephalus 13.3 7.5 78.30 1
Milvus milvus 13.2 6.9 71.36 1
Terathopius ecaudatus 13.4 7.3 77.42 1
Family Cathartidae
Cathartes aura 14.0 7.5 82.47 2 6.0 2.4 11.31 2
" " 13.5 6.9 73.02 1
Coragyps atratus 14.0 7.7 84.67 2 6.3 2.6 12.86 2
Sarcorhamphus papa 14.3 8.1 90.41 2 6.5 3.2 15.96 2
" " 13.9 7.1 77.12 1
Vultur gryphus 14.4 6.5 73.93 1
Family Falconidae
Falco peregrinus 13.3 6.6 68.48 1
Falco sparverius 11.8 7.3 67.65 2 5.8 2.1 9.57 2
Falco subbuteo 13.9 7.2 79.08 1
Falco tinnunculus 13.4 7.3 76.78 1
Polyborus plancus 14.1 8.7 96.34 2 6.4 2.7 13.57 2
" " 13.9 7.1 77.56 1
Family Pandionidae
Pandion haliaetus carolinensis 13.5 7.4 77.98 3 6.6 2.8 14.39 3
Family Sagitariidae
Sagittarius serpentarius 14.8 7.7 89.14 1
ORDER Galliformes
Family Cracidae
Aburria pipile 13.4 7.0 73.86 1
Chamaepetes unicolor 13.9 7.5 81.58 2 6.5 2.8 14.29 2
Crax mitu 12.7 7.3 72.41 1
Crax rubra 12.7 6.9 69.39 1
Penelope purpurescens 13.4 7.0 73.86 1
Family Phasianidae
Ammoperdix griseogularis 13.1 7.7 79.87 1 5.6 2.4 10.40 1
Chrysolophus pictus 11.5 7.0 63.34 1
Colinus virginianus 11.5 6.4 57.24 1
Francolinus francolinus 12.1 6.3 59.54 1
Gallus domesticus 12.1 7.3 69.55 1 4.0 3.2 9.90 1
Lophura nycthemera 13.5 7.3 77.38 1 6.4 3.2 15.83 1
Meleagris gallopavo 12.4 7.1 68.87 1
Numida meleagris 12.4 5.8 55.88 1
Odontophorus guttatus 11.9 6.8 63.55 2 5.2 2.3 9.39 2
Pavo cristatus 13.8 7.1 76.94 1
Pavo muticus 13.8 7.1 76.94 1
Perdicula argoondah 10.8 7.3 62.22 1
Phasianus colchicus 11.7 7.0 64.10 1 4.5 3.6 12.62 1
Rhizothera longirostris 12.4 6.7 64.90 1
Tetrao tetrix 10.7 6.8 57.21 1
Tetrao urogallus 11.3 6.6 58.76 1
Tetraogallus caucasicus 13.2 7.3 76.24 1 5.6 2.8 12.10 1
ORDER Gruiformes
Family Gruidae
Anthropoides paradisea 13.3 7.2 75.21 1
Anthropoides virgo 13.5 6.8 71.91 1
Balearica pavonina 13.7 6.7 72.17 1 6.4 2.6 12.99 1
Balearica regulorum 13.7 7.3 78.41 1
Family Heliornithidae
Heliornis fulica 12.6 7.5 74.22 2 5.5 3.0 12.96 2
Family Otididae
Chlamydotis undulata 14.0 7.9 87.44 1
Otis tarda 14.0 7.9 87.44 1
Family Psophiidae
Psophia crepitans 13.5 7.3 77.15 1
Family Rallidae
Eulabeornis cajaneus 12.9 7.2 72.95 2 5.5 3.3 14.25 2
Fulica americana 11.4 7.5 67.15 2 4.2 2.3 7.59 2
" " 12.0 7.3 68.94 3 5.0 3.1 12.05 3
Fulica atra 13.4 7.9 83.56 1
Gallinula chlorphus 12.4 6.6 64.23 1
Gallinula martinica 14.2 7.8 86.99 2 6.7 2.9 15.26 2
Laterallus albigularis 12.8 7.2 72.10 2 5.2 3.1 12.66 2
Porzana porzana 12.7 7.1 71.27 1
Rallus longirostris elegans 14.5 7.7 87.69 2 5.7 2.9 12.98 2
Rallus philippinensis 12.1 7.5 71.30 1
ORDER Passeriformes
Family Aegithalidae
Aegithalos caudatus 11.9 5.6 51.91 1 5.3 2.4 9.90 1
Family Alaudidae
Alauda arvensis 12.0 6.2 57.76 1 6.4 2.1 10.56 1
Family Bombycillidae
Bombycilla cedrorum 12.2 6.3 60.37 2 5.7 2.3 10.30 2
Bombycilla garrulus 11.9 6.4 59.39 1
Family Certhiidae
Certhia familiaris 11.0 6.4 54.96 1
Family Corvidae
Corvus corax 13.0 6.4 64.60 1
Corvus frugilegus 13.4 7.9 83.71 1 5.6 2.8 12.13 1
Corvus monedula 11.3 6.1 54.21 1 6.4 2.4 11.88 1
Corvus tristis 12.7 6.1 61.01 1
Cyanocitta cristata 13.7 7.8 83.93 2 5.8 2.6 11.84 2
" " 12.4 7.2 70.69 1
Cyanocorax chrysops 12.4 6.1 59.58 1
Cyanocorax cristatellus 11.9 6.3 58.66 1
Garrulus glandarius 12.3 6.5 63.31 1 6.4 2.4 11.88 1
Nucifraga caryocatactes 13.5 6.1 64.78 1
Pica pica 13.0 7.5 77.10 1 6.0 2.3 10.72 1
Pyrrhocorax graculus 12.1 5.6 53.41 1
Family Cotingidae
Cotinga ridgwayi 12.2 6.7 63.94 2 6.2 2.1 10.23 2
Family Cracticidae
Gymnorhina tibicen 12.0 6.5 61.47 1
Family Dendrocolaptidae
Dendrocincla homochroa 11.8 6.7 62.09 2 5.4 2.3 9.75 2
Lepidocolaptes affinis 11.2 6.6 58.06 2 6.0 2.6 12.25 2
Sittasomus griseicapillus 12.0 6.4 60.32 2 5.4 2.0 8.48 2
Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 12.2 6.4 61.32 2 5.7 2.4 10.74 2
Xiphorhynchus guttatus 12.3 7.3 69.75 2 6.0 2.8 12.96 2
Family Emberizidae
Arremonops conirostris 11.4 6.2 55.27 2 5.5 2.2 9.20 2
Cardinalis cardinalis 11.9 6.0 56.03 3 5.6 2.1 9.32 3
Chlorospingus pileatus 11.4 6.7 59.54 2 5.9 2.7 12.18 2
Dacnis cayana 12.5 7.4 72.65 2 6.2 3.2 15.58 2
Dacnis venusta 11.2 6.0 52.78 2 4.8 2.1 7.92 2
Emberiza citrinella 11.1 6.4 55.41 1 6.4 2.1 10.56 1
Guiraca caerulea 11.1 6.8 59.16 1
Junco hyemalis 11.7 5.9 53.89 3 5.5 2.3 10.08 3
Melospiza georgiana 10.9 5.9 50.42 3 5.1 2.4 9.75 3
Melospiza melodia 11.1 6.1 53.16 3 5.3 2.3 9.74 3
Passerella iliaca 11.3 6.2 54.69 3 5.7 2.2 9.92 3
Pheucticus tibialis 11.7 6.5 59.73 2 5.3 2.7 11.24 2
Pipilo erythrophthalmus 11.4 6.1 54.49 3 5.2 2.4 9.78 3
Piranga olivacea 11.9 6.2 57.85 3 5.1 2.4 9.57 3
Plectrophenax nivalis 11.9 5.4 50.12 1
Ramphocelus passerinii 12.0 6.6 62.20 2 4.8 2.4 9.05 2
Saltator albicollis 12.1 7.2 68.42 2 5.2 3.0 12.05 2
Saltator atriceps 12.5 7.5 73.63 2 5.3 2.9 12.07 2
Spizella arborea 10.2 5.3 42.22 3 5.1 2.0 7.90 3
Spizella passerina 10.1 6.0 47.20 3 5.0 2.3 9.17 3
Spizella pusilla 11.3 5.9 52.41 3 5.3 2.2 9.21 3
Tangara icterocephala 11.4 6.3 56.41 2 5.1 2.4 9.61 2
Thraupis episcopus 11.4 7.0 62.40 2 5.4 2.3 9.45 2
Tiaris olivacea 11.3 6.9 61.24 2 4.9 2.4 9.24 2
Zonotrichia albicollis 11.7 5.1 46.88 3 5.5 2.1 9.09 3
Zonotrichia capensis 11.4 6.1 54.62 2 4.8 2.1 7.92 2
Family Estrildidae
Amadina fasciata 12.7 5.8 58.03 1
Amandava amandava 11.3 5.3 47.06 1
Estrilda astrild 11.2 5.4 47.03 1
Lonchura malacca 10.8 6.1 51.55 1
Family Formicariidae
Taraba major 13.6 7.6 80.64 2 6.6 2.8 14.51 2
Family Fringillidae
Acanthis cannabina 10.9 6.7 57.44 1
Acanthis flammea 11.1 5.6 48.50 1
Carduelis carduelis 11.3 5.3 47.06 1
Carduelis chloris 11.4 7.1 63.06 1
Carduelis spinus 11.9 6.4 59.19 1
Coccothraustes coccothraustes 12.4 6.7 65.47 1 5.6 2.4 10.40 1
Fringilla coelebs 11.3 6.1 54.42 1
Loxia curvirostra 10.7 6.4 53.56 1
Pinicola enucleator 11.3 6.2 55.23 1
Serinus canaria 11.4 7.1 63.06 1
Family Furnariidae
Philydor striaticollis 11.9 6.1 57.01 2 5.4 2.1 8.91 2
Synallaxis brachyura 11.1 6.1 53.18 2 5.6 2.1 9.24 2
Family Hirundinidae
Delichon urbica 11.7 6.4 58.38 1
Hirundo rustica 11.9 6.4 59.39 1 5.6 3.2 13.86 1
Notiochelidon cyanoleuca 11.7 6.4 58.81 2 5.4 2.1 8.91 2
Progne chalybea 12.7 7.1 70.82 2 5.5 2.7 11.66 2
Stelgidopteryx ruficollis 12.2 6.6 63.24 2 5.9 2.1 9.73 2
Family Icteridae
Cacicus holosericeus 11.6 6.5 59.22 2 5.7 3.0 13.43 2
Dolichonyx oryzivorus 10.6 6.1 50.67 1