Facts About Ostrich

Ostrich is known as the largest living bird. Males actually grow as high as 8 feet or 2.4 meters and weighs around 300 pounds or 136 kilograms. Female ostriches are smaller. They are flightless birds which can run at a speed of 45 miles per hour.

Ostrich is known as the largest living birds. Males actually grow as high as 8 feet or 2.4 meters and weighs around 300 pounds or 136 kilograms. Female ostriches are smaller. They are flightless birds which can run at a speed of 45 miles per hour.

Ostriches normally have fluffy black and white plumes on their bodies. They have long neck and they are often in the company of Gnus and Zebras. This is probably an association which can be called commensalism. The ostrich is neither hurt nor aid by this kind of association; moreover mammals take advantage of the bird's keen vision.

The ostrich is the only bird that has two heavy toes. They use their feet to protect themselves by kicking. In terms of mating, the male ostriches mate with two hens and build a family nest. Females lay twelve to eighteen large white eggs with pitted shells. Their eggs get incubated for 42 days, during the day by females and during the night by males. Young are then covered with stiff down quills.

According to fossil records, the ostriches came to the New World during the Pleistocene period. Those ostriches in South America evolved into rheas. 

Ostriches thrive in captivity and have a life-span which is similar to that of humans.