The ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird. As its species name, camelus, suggests, the ostrich was once known as the camel bird because of its long neck, prominent eyes, and sweeping eyelashes, as well as its jolting walk. Also, like camels, the ostrich can tolerate high temperatures and go without water for long periods of time.
As it is so heavy, this flightless bird that can never take to the skies; instead, its built to run. Its long, thick, and powerful legs can cover great distances without much effort, and its feet have only two toes for greater speed. ? Ostriches can sprint in short bursts up to 43 miles per hour (70 kilometers per hour), and they can maintain a steady speed of 31 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour). Just one stride can be 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 meters) longthats longer than many rooms! When danger threatens, ostriches can escape pretty easily by running away. Ostrich chicks can run at speeds approaching 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) at just a month old!
If they cant fly, why do they have wings? For one thing, ostriches hold their wings out to help them balance when they run, especially if they suddenly change direction. Their main use, though, along with the tail feathers, is for displays and courtship. To show dominance, an ostrich holds its head up high and lifts its wings and tail feathers; to show submission, the head, wings, and tail droop down.
Unlike most birds feathers, ostrich feathers are loose, soft, and smooth. They dont hook together the way feathers of other birds do, giving ostriches a “shaggy” look. The feathers can also get soaked in the rain, because ostriches do not have the special gland many birds have to waterproof their feathers while preening. Adult male ostriches have striking black-and-white plumage; immature birds and adult females have grayish brown feathers.
Ostriches live in groups, which helps with defense. With their long necks and keen vision, they can see for great distances, so in a group at least one of them is likely to notice danger approaching. Ostriches sometimes gather in a large flock of 100 or more, but most flocks are smaller, usually about 10 birds or just a male and female pair. The groups have a pecking order, with a dominant male that establishes and defends a territory, a dominant female called the “main hen,” and several other females. Lone males may also come and go during breeding season.
Contrary to the popular myth, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand! When an ostrich senses danger and cannot run away, it flops to the ground and remains still, with its head and neck flat on the ground in front of it. Because the head and neck are lightly colored, they blend in with the color of the soil. From a distance, it just looks like the ostrich has buried its head in the sand, because only the body is visible. Some ostrich eggs are lost to hyenas, jackals, and even Egyptian vultures, which break open eggs by dropping stones on them. But when an adult ostrich is threatened, it attacks with a ?clawed foot that delivers a kick powerful enough to kill a lion.
Native to Africa, ostriches are found in savanna and desert regions, where they graze among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles. Ostriches are omnivores, and they eat whatever is available in their habitat at that time of the year. They mostly eat plants, especially roots, leaves, and seeds, but they also munch on insects, snakes, lizards, or rodents that come within reach. As an ostrich eats, food is collected in the crop at the top of the throat until there is a large enough lump to slide down the throat. Ostriches eat things that other animals cant digest. They swallow sand, pebbles, and small stones that help grind up food in their gizzard. Their tough intestines are 46 feet (14 meters) longif you stretched them outin order to absorb as many nutrients as possible. Ostriches do not need to drink water, since they get what they need from the plants they eat, but they will drink if they come to a water hole. They also have a special way of raising their body temperature on hot days to reduce water loss.
During courtship, the black-and-white male uses his dramatic coloring to attract the light brown female. He sinks slowly to the ground, almost like hes bowing, and begins to wave and shake the feathers of first one wing and then the other while moving his tail up and down. He then gets up and moves toward the female, holding his wings out and stamping as he goes to impress her. If she approves, she mates with him.
The dominant or “alpha” hen mates with the territorial male, and they share the tasks of incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks. The other females may mate with that male or other wandering males, and then lay their eggs in the same nest as the main hens eggsa communal dump nest that is little more than a shallow depression scratched in the dirt by the male. The main hen puts her eggs in the center of the nest to make sure they have the best chance of hatching, but the dominant pair may incubate many of the other eggs, too. Ostrich eggs are famous for their size, averaging 6 inches (15 centimeters) in length, 5 inches (13 centimeters) across, and weighing about 3 pounds (1,500 grams). Yet an ?ostrich egg is small in relation to the size of the adult. An ostrich hen lays 7 to 10 eggs at a time, but her large body can easily incubate dozens more. Communal laying has advantages for an ostrich flock: more eggs successfully hatch overall in a communal nest than if each female ostrich had her own nest to incubate and protect. Usually the drab-colored main hen takes incubation duty during the day; the black-plumed male takes over and incubates at night.
Newly hatched chicks are about the size of barnyard chickens, but they grow at a rate of 1 foot (30 centimeters) per month, and by 6 months of age they are nearly as large as their parents. A few days after the chicks hatch, they leave the nest to travel with their parents. The adults shelter them under their wings to protect them from sun and rain. When chicks are threatened, the male ostrich reacts with alarm, his neck outstretched and mouth open. This is not a prelude to an attack but one of several distraction displays meant to divert a predators attention, so the chicks can scatter into the grass or run for cover, accompanied by the female. Baby ostriches are covered with a stiff, spiky down and dont begin to show their adult plumage until four months of age. Male ostriches dont attain their black-and-white feathers until they reach sexual maturity in three to four years.
When family groups of ostriches meet, they may challenge each other with short chases, and then the winning adult pair takes all the chicks with them. Some of these “nurseries” can end up with 300 chicks and only a couple of adults to mind them.
Humans have had a long association with ostriches, due primarily to the birds feathers. Records show the ancient Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian empires all actively groomed, farmed, and traded ostrich plumes. Throughout the ages, ostrich feathers have been worn by royalty, adorned the helmets of medieval knights, and festooned the elaborate hairdos of ladies. In the late 18th century, the hat industry brought the fashion for all types of feathers to its zenith and turned the hunting of birds for their feathers into a major global enterprise. Ostrich plumes were particularly prized. South Africa turned to the commercial farming of ostriches for their feathers. It quickly became a profitable industry; so valuable were ostrich plumes that in the early 20th century, they ranked fourth on the list of South African exportsafter gold, diamonds, and wool. By 1913, more than 1 million ostriches lived on commercial farms throughout the world. Then, overnight, the bottom dropped out of the feather market due, surprisingly, to the invention of the car. Early cars had no roof or windshield, and women passengers found their feathers stripped from hats and blown away. Ostrich farming continues today on a smaller scale, primarily to supply the feather duster industry. Farm-raised ostriches are also harvested for eggs, supple leather, and gourmet meat that is lower in cholesterol than beef. ? At one time, most of Africa was home to the ostrich. Today, although not threatened, the ostrich requires strict protection and farming to conserve the remaining populations.
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Taxonomic history
Carl Linnaeus published the first description of the genus Struthio in 1758. Before each was assigned to its own genera, Linnaeus and other early taxonomists included the emu, rhea, and cassowary in the genus. Most authorities now consider the Somali ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes) to be a distinct species, although some are still analyzing the data. [6][7].
A family of paleognath birds, the Struthionidae first arose in the Early Eocene and includes a range of flightless species that were distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, and Asia) during this period. The Ergilornithidae, who have been known from late Eocene to early Pliocene Asia, are the closest relatives of Struthionidae within the Struthioniformes. It is therefore most likely that Struthionidae originated in Asia. [8].
It is suggested that the genus Struthio originated in Africa because the earliest fossils of the genus were found in Namibia during the early Miocene, some 21 million years ago. They migrated to and became widely distributed throughout Eurasia by the middle to late Miocene (513 mya). [9] While the relationships between African fossil species are relatively clear-cut, many Asian ostrich species have only been partially described from fragmentary remains, making it difficult to understand how they relate to African ostriches. Ostriches are thought to have gone extinct in India, Mongolia, and China only around or after the end of the last ice age; remnants of ostriches have been discovered in ancient Chinese pottery and petroglyphs. [10][11][12][13].
- Struthio camelus egg MHNT
- Comparing sizes (using a US dollar bill and a chicken egg)
- Ostrich with eggs
Distribution and habitat
In 2008, S. linxiaensis was transferred to the genus Orientornis. [20] Three additional species, S. pannonicus, S. dmanisensis, and S. transcaucasicus, were transferred to the genus Pachystruthio in 2019. [21] A number of other fossil forms are ichnotaxa, which means they are categorized based on an organism’s traces, like footprints, rather than its body. Their relationship to those found in unique bones is debatable and needs to be revised until better evidence becomes available. [22].
The species are:
For starters, ostriches hold their wings out to help them balance when they run, especially if they suddenly change direction. So why do they have wings if they cannot fly? Their primary function, however, is for displays and courtship, along with the tail feathers. An ostrich raises its head, wings, and tail feathers to demonstrate dominance; it lowers these elements to demonstrate submission.
Ostriches do not, despite common belief, bury their heads in the sand when they sense danger. Instead, when they are unable to flee, they flop to the ground and remain motionless, resting its head and neck flat on the ground in front of them. The head and neck’s pale coloring allows them to blend in with the soil’s hue. Only the body is visible from a distance, giving the impression that the ostrich has buried its head in the sand. Hyenas, jackals, and even Egyptian vultures, who crack open eggs by laying stones on them, steal some of the ostrich eggs. However, an adult ostrich will attack with a clawed foot that can kick a lion to death when it feels threatened.
Ostriches and humans have a long history together, mostly because of the birds’ feathers. Ostrich plumes were actively cultivated, traded, and groomed by the ancient Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian empires, according to historical records. Ostrich feathers have been used historically to decorate the elaborate hairstyles of women, the helmets of medieval knights, and the clothing of royalty. The hat industry reached its pinnacle of popularity in the late eighteenth century, transforming the hunting of birds for their feathers into a major worldwide industry. Ostrich plumes were particularly prized. For their feathers, South Africa resorted to commercial ostrich farming. Ostrich plumes were so valuable that, in the early 1900s, they were South Africa’s fourth-most valuable export after wool, diamonds, and gold. It was a rapidly profitable industry. Over a million ostriches were kept on commercial farms worldwide by 1913. Then, unexpectedly, the invention of the car caused the feather market to collapse over night. Early vehicles lacked a roof and a windshield, and female passengers discovered that their hat feathers had been blown off. Small-scale ostrich farming is still practiced today, mostly to supply the feather duster industry. Ostriches raised on farms are also harvested for their eggs, their soft leather, and their gourmet meat, which has less cholesterol than beef. The ostrich once lived across most of Africa. Even though it is not endangered today, ostrich farming and strict protection are necessary to preserve the species’ remaining populations.
The ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird. The ostrich, as suggested by its species name, camelus, was formerly referred to as the “camel bird” due to its long neck, prominent eyes, sweeping eyelashes, and abrupt gait. The ostrich can withstand extreme heat and go for extended periods of time without drinking, just like camels can.
This flightless bird is made to run because it is so heavy and cannot take to the skies. Its powerful, long legs can move large distances with little effort, and its feet have two toes for increased speed. Ostriches can run up to 43 miles per hour (70 kilometers per hour) in short bursts and 31 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour) at a steady pace. Ostriches can cover more ground in a single stride than many rooms, measuring between 10 and 16 feet (3 and 5 meters)! When danger approaches, they can flee rather quickly by running away. At just one month old, ostrich chicks can reach speeds of almost 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour)!
FAQ
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