Struthio Camelus - Ostrich: The Largest Flightless Bird

The Ostrich is part of the ratite (flightless) bird group. It is the largest bird out of over 8 600 species, it can reach a length of 2.6m and weighing as much as 140kg (the reason for it not being able to fly).

A female ostrich can lay anything between 6-12 eggs. They have a communal nest which can have up to 60 eggs altogether. Just before incubation, the dominant male kicks out the weaker female’s eggs and only keeps about 25. Both the dominant male and female take turns to look after the eggs. Incubation takes 30-45 days. The eggs are an ivory colour, about 15cm in length and 12cm in width. These eggs are so resistant that people can stand on it without damage.

Ostriches have powerful long legs which are formidable weapons as one kick can kill a human and potential predators. The feet are two toed, with a single long sharp claw.

Ostriches lives in fragmented groups in South Africa, where most of them are protected in game reserves. They are well adapted and can survive harsh conditions. These birds can run very fast reaching a speed of 70 km/h for as long as 30 minutes.They mostly eat grass, succulents berries, seeds and sometimes insects too.

While taking photos of the ostriches this male, all of a sudden, went down on his knees, spreads out his wings and starts swinging from side to side. At first I was scared because I thought he was doing it for me to get going but then I remembered something I read, and realized it was a dance to attract the females attention.

Ostriches becomes sexually mature between the ages of 2-3. The breeding season starts from end March and ends around September. Ostriches are polygamous, so a male will copulate with more then one female.

The male performs his courtship dance when he finds a suitable female to impress her. It looks a little like ballet and is quite funny to watch. He will go down on his hacks, wave his wings and swing his neck from side to side while making a deep thumping sound.

It is easy to distinguish between the male and female as the male is black with white wings, the female is a faded brown colour all around. Here you can clearly see the difference between the male and feel male ostrich in this group of ostriches.

In South Africa, ostriches are farmed for their meat, feathers and leather.

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