Ostrich: The Majestic Giant of the Bird World
Introduction:
One of the most enthralling birds in the world is the ostrich (Struthio camelus), which is also the largest bird. Their massive physique, top speed, and special adaptations make them one of the most interesting fowl around. For centuries, they have lived in Africa’s savannahs and deserts because they are very beautiful animals that have strange abilities that attracted people to them. They may not fly but can outrun almost all land predators. In addition to their physical power as animals.
Amazing Facts:
Some records broken by their stemming from their extraordinary speed are:
- Record Breaking Speed: As a matter of fact, they are considered the swiftest runners when compared to other species of birds across the globe, with a maximum speed that reaches up to 60 MPH.
- Largest Eggs: One egg from an ostrich weighs approximately three pounds, hence making it heavier than any other ovum-laying bird.
- Birds with the biggest eyes: they have large eyes that are about 2 inches wide. This makes them see very well and be able to spot predators from farthest distances.
- A Powerful Kick: Their kick is enough to bring down a lion or even a man.
- Two Toed Feet: Unlike other birds that have 3 toes per foot, they have only two on each foot, which helps it run quickly.
- Distinctive Feathers: Ostrich feathers look looser and more fluffy as compared to other birds’ due to the lack of hooklets that interlock those feathers together in the latter.
- Without Teeth: They do not have teeth, so they eat stones and pebbles in order to grind their food using their gizzard.
- Communal Nesting: Different female adults build the communal nest where eggs are laid. Some nests may have contained up to sixty eggs ago.
- The longest necks: Long necks allow them to see hunters easily as well as food on ground foragers
Habitat and Diet:
Habitat:
They live in open land of Africa, which includes;
- Savannas: these are grassy plains full of wild animals and areas for one to run around freely.
- Deserts: These animals can easily survive in dry areas as they are capable of going for long periods without water.
- Woodlands: This is where you will get a shade and feel safe from predators.
Diet:
They eat everything. They are omnivores that have mixed diet composed of plant and animal foods
- Plants: The main part of their diet consists of grass seeds, leaves, and flowers.
- Insects: Also, they feed on locusts and beetles, among other plant-eating insects.
- Pebbles and Stones: It’s either since or because it helps them grind the food inside their gizzards.
- Water Needs: A camel avoids the problem of living in dry areas for long periods by obtaining most of its water as part of its food intake.
Appearance:
They have some physical characteristics that make them look conspicuous:
- Size: Adult ostriches stand at approximately 9 feet tall and weigh between 150-300 pounds, with males generally larger than females.
- Colour: Male ostriches are black in colour, but their tails and wingtips are white, while the female ostriches have a light grey-brown colour, which helps them camouflage with the surrounding vegetation.
- Neck and Legs: The long neck of these birds exposes them more to predators, while on the other hand, their legs aid them in running exceptionally fast during escape.
- Eye Sight: Ostrich’s eyes are the largest among all land animals, meaning they can see far away and hence spot any predator coming from their direction.
- Beak: It has a broad, flat beak for pecking on the ground as it looks for food.
Types/Subspecies of Ostrich:
This resulted in various subspecies of ostrich birds, each suited to different regions:
- Common Ostrich: The most widespread subspecies is found across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Masai Ostrich: This one is mostly pinkish, with its range limited to East Africa, where it is predominantly present in Kenya and Tanzania.
- Somali Ostrich: There is another race of blue-skin in the Horn of Africa that may even merit full species status, according to some taxonomists.
- Arabian Ostrich: This kind of ostrich was formerly present throughout the Middle Eastern region but was wiped off by hunting and destruction of its habitat.
Predators and Threats:
Natural Predators:
Adult ostriches or their babies are easy prey to large cats, such as lions. Leopards and cheetahs fall into this category too.
- Hyenas and Jackals: These are Dogs that can take advantage of any opportunity, including eggs and young ostriches.
- Birds of Prey: Some species, like Eagles and Hawks, threaten chicks.
Threats:
- Habitat Destruction: As people change forests into farms or when cities develop, they lose their homes.
- Hunting: They kill these birds due to the feathers they produce, the meat they have, or the skin that is good for making leather.
- Climate Change: The expected rainfall pattern changes will bring about food scarcity, hence low breeding success among ostriches.
Mating and Reproduction:
Key features of mating behaviour in ostriches include the following:
- Mating Displays: During the mating season, male ostrich do complex courtship dances involving vigorous wing flapping accompanied by loud vocalizations.
- Dominance: In communal nests, subordinate females also lay eggs, even though males only mate with dominant females.
- Egg Laying: The female will deposit her eggs in a small hollow excavated by the male. Each egg measures around six inches long and weighs about three pounds.
- Incubation: During the daytime, the females take on this role, while at night their males turn to incubate their eggs.
- Chick Survival: Although they are highly precocial at hatching, 85% of ostrich chicks die before adulthood due to predators.
How do they Communicate?
They use vocalisations such as hissing and booming calls for different purposes:
- Vocalisations: Ranging from booming calls to hissing or grunting that make alerts, attract mates, or establish territories.
- Body Language: In terms of aggression among birds’ communication behaviours, posture changes, neck movement, and feather display reflect submission and courtship intentions within the species.
- Visual Signals: Through keen eyesight, these can read any approaching danger as well as gestures made by other members of its species.
Movies Featuring Ostriches:
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019): The film has the characters chased by ostriches while they run in the desert, trying to add diversity to their adventure.
- Prince of Persia, The Sands of Time (2010): The film includes ostrich racing, which is entertaining and fun.
- Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000): The movie includes a funny scene with ostriches, which adds to the overall humour of the film.
How would you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of this name may vary among languages, as shown below.
- English:/ˈɒs.trɪtʃ/
- French: Autruche (Oh-troosh)
- Spanish: Avestruz (Ah-ves-troos)
- German: Strauß (Shtrows)
- Mandarin: 鸵鸟 (Tuó niǎo)
FAQs:
Q: Do they fly?
A: No; instead they run very fast since an ostrich is a runner that cannot fly but has strong legs.
Q: How long do they live?
A: When reared in captivity, they can live up to 40-50 years, while when released into the wild, it’s usually between 30-40 years.
A. No, not at all. The neck of an ostrich bows to the ground when it is checking or moving its eggs, and one feels as if they are being buried alive.
Q: Are they becoming extinct?
A: Most subspecies of them are stable except for a few that face threats such as habitat loss and hunting.
Q: Why do they have long necks?
A: Their long necks make them capable of seeing distant predators and also aid them in reaching food, which can be found on the ground or up in trees.