Introduction to Ostrich
Ostrich, a large, flightless bird that lives in the dry grasslands of Africa. Ostriches are raised for their feathers and skins in South Africa, Egypt, and California. They form the single remaining species in an ancient, primitive order of birds.
Largest of all birds, the ostrich is seven to eight feet (2.1 to 2.4 m) tall, and has a long, thin neck and a small, flat head with large, brown eyes. The males, slightly larger than the females, reach a weight of about 300 pounds (135 kg). The ostrich has small, weak wings and strong legs. Its feet are two-toed, the longer toe measuring seven inches (18 cm).
The ostrich towers over his cousin, the bee hummingbird.Ostriches are well adapted for life on the grasslands. They eat seeds and grasses and require little water. They have keen eyesight. Wild ostriches are usually found grazing with zebras, gnus, and antelopes. They are wary and seem to warn other animals when danger approaches. Ostriches can attain a speed of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h).
When cornered, the ostrich defends itself with slashing downward kicks. Domesticated males are aggressive and tend to chase humans and dogs. An ostrich's voice is a loud hiss or a roar.
A male ostrich has black feathers on most of its body. At the ends of its wings and tail are the white ostrich plumes valued for decoration. The female's plumage is grayish brown. Both sexes have sparse white down on the head, neck, and legs, revealing the pinkish-gray skin beneath.
Ostriches mate three times a year. Each male mates with two to six females, who all lay their eggs in the same nest, a depression in the sand. The yellowish-white eggs are six to nine inches (15 to 23 cm) long and weigh about three pounds (1.4 kg) each—more than the weight of two dozen chicken eggs. During the day, the females take turns sitting on the eggs. At night the male sits on the eggs.
In six weeks the eggs hatch. When the chicks are a few hours old, they are able to follow their parents. They grow rapidly, but do not mature until they are three or four years old. Ostriches have an average life span of 40 to 45 years.
There is no basis for the common belief that, in the presence of danger, ostriches bury their heads in the sand Chicks, however, will flatten out on the ground when frightened and flee only when danger is very close.
Ostrich Farming
For thousands of years, ostriches were slaughtered for their decorative plumes. Now most plumes are obtained from ostriches raised on ostrich farms, most of which are located in South Africa. The feathers are clipped from the birds every nine months. They are used mainly to make feather dusters. Ostrich skin is made into boots, belts, wallets, and handbags. Ostriches are also raised for their meat.
Which Flightless Bird Is the Biggest?The ostrich is the biggest of all the flightless birds. It’s also the biggest bird alive today. An ostrich stands nearly 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and weighs up to 345 pounds (156 kilograms). Even an ostrich egg is big—about 20 inches (51 centimeters) around. Just one ostrich egg weighs about 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). That’s about the weight of 25 chicken eggs.
Not only do these big birds stand above all other birds, but they also stand out because of their striking looks. A female ostrich has dull brown feathers, but a male has a thick, black-and-white coat. The long, fluffy, white feathers on a male’s wings and tail are called plumes.
Ostriches have bald heads. The bare skin of ostriches can be pink or blue. Their eyes are big and round. And their eyelashes are long and thick.
How Fast Can an Ostrich Run?An ostrich can run very fast! In fact, it’s one of the fastest runners on Earth. This bird can reach speeds up to 40 miles (65 kilometers) an hour. Its legs reach out in huge strides. A single stride may be over 15 feet (4.6 meters) long. An ostrich can even outrun a four-legged predator such as a lion.
An ostrich can run fast because of its long legs. Its feet are also well shaped for moving quickly across the ground. The ostrich is the only bird that has just two toes on each foot. This bird’s feet are shaped to support the ostrich’s heavy weight. They also give the bird solid footing when it pushes off with its powerful legs.
Ostriches on the run do not tire easily. They can run at top speed for about 20 minutes. But ostriches usually run only when they are threatened.
Do Ostriches Live in Flocks?Ostriches spend much of their time alone, but they are never too far from members of their family group. A family group is made up of one male and three to five adult females. Sometimes, many ostriches join together to form a flock. A flock of ostriches may contain 50 birds or more. Ostriches usually form flocks in areas that have plenty of food or that are near water holes.
Wild ostriches can be found only in Africa. There, they live on open plains where they can find plenty of their favorite foods: grass and small plants. They also eat bugs and small reptiles, such as turtles and lizards.
Does an Ostrich Hide Its Head in the Sand?From a distance, it may look as if this is what an ostrich sometimes does. But the ostrich is not hiding. It is just moving eggs around in its nest. Of course, it has to poke its bill into the sand to do that.
A male ostrich builds the nest. He digs a shallow hole in the sand. He then uses the nest to attract mates. Usually, three to five females lay their eggs in the nest. After two or three weeks, the nest contains 30 eggs or more. But many of the eggs are pushed aside so that only about 20 are incubated.
Who incubates the eggs? The male and usually the oldest female in the family group take turns. After about six weeks, the eggs are ready to hatch. When an ostrich chick hatches, it’s not much taller than the egg it was curled up in. After a month, it is about the size of an adult chicken. By that time, it can run as fast as an adult ostrich.
The ostrich is Struthio camelus of the ostrich family, Struthionidae.