Ostrich feathers look shaggy because they hang loosely and don't hook together like feathers on other types of birds.Ostriches are truly odd birds indeed! Curious creatures, these flightless avians are fast and formidable and you certainly wouldn’t ever want to pick a fight with one! They are some of the most fascinating creatures around – not only in the bird kingdom! Let’s take a look at a few fun facts about ostriches that are likely to surprise you. They kick forward because that's the direction in which their legs bend, according to the American Ostrich Association. It only looks like the ostrich has buried its head because its head and neck blend in with the color of the sand. They can run up to 40 mph (64.3 km/h) for sustained periods of time, according to the American Ostrich Association.Ĭontrary to popular belief, ostriches don't bury their heads in the sand, but they do lie down with their heads against the ground when they feel threatened. Their thin legs give them great speed and maneuverability, too.
Their legs are perfectly placed so that the body's center of gravity balances on top of its legs. It may seem amazing that an ostrich's thin legs can keep their large bodies upright. It is believed that they are on a rapid decline. The Somali ostrich is listed as vulnerable (opens in new tab), though their population is unknown.
Subspecies: Struthio camelus camelus (red-necked or North African ostrich), Struthio camelus massaicus (Masai ostrich), Struthio camelus australis (South African or Southern ostrich), Struthio camelus syriacus (Arabian ostrich) and Struthio camelus molybdophanes (Somali ostrich)Īccording to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List (opens in new tab), most ostrich subspecies are not endangered, though their populations are declining.(Image credit: Stockxpert.) Classification/TaxonomyĪccording to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (opens in new tab) (ITIS), the taxonomy of the ostrich is as follows: With its powerful legs, the ostrich can sprint in short bursts up to 43 mph (70 kph), and can maintain a steady speed of 31 mph (50 kph). The largest and heaviest living bird, the ostrich is flightless and instead is built for running. During an attack, the male tries to lure the predator away from the chicks while they run for cover with the female.īy six months, a chick is almost at its full-grown height at 3 or 4 years, it will reach maturity. The males and females share the responsibility of taking care of the young, according to the San Diego Zoo. At birth, chicks can be as big as chickens. Ostrich offspring are larger than any other bird baby. Males, as well as females, sit on the eggs until they hatch, which can take 42 to 46 days. Eggs are laid in a communal nest called a dump nest, which can hold about 60 eggs at one time. Ostrich eggs are 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter and can weigh up to 3 pounds (1.3 kg). Their feathers will turn a silvery color, according to the American Ostrich Association (opens in new tab). Females also change color when they are ready to mate. Sometimes, his neck will change to a red color to match.
When they are ready to mate, the male's beak and shins will turn bright red. To get a female's attention, males bow and flap their wings outward to display their plumage. Lone males come and go during mating season. The group has a dominant male and a dominant female and several other females. Flocks can consist of up to 100 birds, though most have 10 members, according to the San Diego Zoo. Male ostriches are called cocks or roosters, and females are called hens. (Image credit: Four Oaks (opens in new tab) Shutterstock (opens in new tab)) Mating habits To attract a female, a male ostrich (shown on right wooing a female) will do a little dance in which he crouches down and alternates bringing his black-and-white wings forward, one after the other.