Ostrich (Struthio camelus) is a large, flightless bird that lives in the dry grasslands of Africa. It is the largest of all birds.

Here are some known facts about this huge bird. You may already know some of these but certainly not all. (Photos courtesy of Wikipedia)

The male will defend the hatchlings, and teach them how and on what to feed

Each male mate with 2 to 6 females who all lay their eggs in the same nest

Ostriches mate 3 times a year

Ostrich lays the largest egg of any bird species

Ostrich feet are two-toed (most birds are four), the longer toe measuring 7 in (18 cm)

Their feathers are used mainly to make feather dusters

During the 18th century, ostrich’s plumes were used to decorate hats

In some areas of northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula Ostriches are trained as racing mounts

Ostriches are farmed in over 50 countries, including climates as cold as that of Sweden and Finland

The wings are used in mating displays, and they can also provide shade for chicks

They eat seeds and grasses and require little water and can go without water for several days

Occasionally they also eat insects such as locusts

They enjoy water and frequently take baths where it is available.

An adult ostrich typically carries about 1 kg of stones in its stomach

The wings are not used for flight, but are still large, with a wingspan of around two meters (over six feet)

Ostrich has no crop, and it also lacks a gallbladder

They are wary and warn other animals when danger approaches

Ostriches can sense predators such as lions from far away

Ostriches can attain a speed of 45 miles per hour or 72 km/h

Ostriches do deliberately swallow sand and pebbles to help grind up their food

Their eggs are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the bird

An ostrich egg weighs about 3 lbs or 1.4 kg, more than the weight of 2 dozen chicken eggs.

The yolk is the largest single cell

The incubation period is 35 to 45 days

The female take turns sitting on the eggs during the day. The male sits on the eggs at night.

Chick will flatten out on the ground when frightened and flee only when danger is very close

Beware! Domesticated male ostriches are aggressive and tend to chase humans and dogs

There are a number of incidents of people being attacked and killed

During the mating season, the male’s neck and thighs become brighter

The largest manufacturer of Ostrich feather dusters is Texas Feathers (TxF) which is located in Arlington Texas

Ostrich skins are made into boots, belts, wallets, and handbags

The ostrich is 7 – 8 ft or 2.1 – 2.4 m tall.

Ostriches usually weigh from 93 to 155 kg (200 to 340 lb)

They have an average lifespan of 40 – 45 years

An Ostrich can live up to 75 years

When cornered, the ostrich defends itself with slashing downward kicks

Ostrich voice is a loud hiss or a roar

They are also raised for their meat

The ends of ostrich wings and tails are the white ostrich plumes valued for decorations

Arabian Ostrich or Middle Eastern Ostrich was a subspecies formerly very common in the Arabian Peninsula, Syria, and Iraq; it became extinct around 1966

The Ostrich is the world’s fastest two-legged animal

Ostriches can tolerate a wide range of temperatures

Their legs can only kick forward

When lying down and hiding from predators, the birds lay their head and neck flat on the ground, making them appear as a mound of earth from a distance

It is claimed that ostriches produce the strongest commercially available leather

Ostrich meat tastes similar to lean beef and is low in fat and cholesterol, as well as high in calcium, protein and iron

The town of Oudtshhoorn in South Africa has the world’s largest population of ostriches

The farming of Ostriches for their feathers does not harm the bird

The Ostrich feather is durable, soft and flexible, which accounts for the success of the Ostrich feather duster over the last 100 years

The Ostrich’s behavior is also mentioned in the Bible in God’s discourse to Job (Job 39.13-18). It is described as being joyfully proud of its small wings, but unwise and unmindful of the safety of its nest and harsh in the treatment of its offspring, even though it can put a horse to shame with its speed.

For related articles see:

Interesting and Random Facts About Animals

I hope you enjoyed reading the trivia about ostriches. Thank you!

For colorful birds see

The Twenty Most Brilliantly Colored Birds in the World.

For loving and caring bird fathers see

The Most Loving and Caring Feathered Fathers.

For poisonous birds see

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