The Southern Ostrich

Their wings are too small relative to body mass, but they are used for balance, courtship, and threat displays.

In the wild, they can live 30-40 years; in captivity, up to 50.

Ostrich eggs are the largest of any living bird, measuring 15 cm (6 inches) long and weighing around 1.4–2 kg (3–4.5 lbs) each.

No, ostriches do not actually bury their heads in the sand – that’s a long-standing myth.

What they do do instead:

• When threatened, ostriches may lie flat on the ground with their necks stretched out along the earth. From a distance, this can make them appear as if their heads are buried.

• They sometimes dig shallow holes in the ground to turn their eggs, which may have contributed to the myth.

• Their behaviour is actually a defensive tactic: staying low helps them blend into the terrain and avoid detection by predators.

So, the “head-in-the-sand” idea is just a misinterpretation of their natural camouflage and nesting behaviour.

Ostriches eat small stones, called gastroliths, to help them digest their food.

• Ostriches are herbivores, eating tough plants, seeds, and fibrous vegetation.

• Their stomachs don’t have teeth, so the stones act like internal grinders, crushing and breaking down food to aid digestion.

• Gastroliths can also help with balance and weight distribution while running, though this is secondary to digestion.

Stones are an essential natural tool that allows ostriches to process their fibrous diet efficiently.

No, ostriches cannot swim. Unlike some birds, they are entirely terrestrial and have evolved to live on open savannahs and grasslands.

• Their large, heavy bodies and long legs are built for running, not floating.

• They rely on speed and stamina to escape predators instead of crossing rivers or swimming.

• Ostriches may wade in shallow water to drink, but they don’t paddle or submerge themselves.

Ostriches lay one egg every 1–2 days during their breeding season, though they do not lay eggs daily like some smaller birds.

• A female’s breeding season typically lasts from spring to early summer, depending on location.

• Over a season, a female may lay 15–60 eggs, usually depositing them in a communal nest – a shallow scrape in the ground shared by several females.

Yes, female ostriches can lay eggs without a male, but those eggs will be infertile and cannot hatch into chicks.

• Fertile eggs require mating with a male; otherwise, the eggs are essentially like any other unfertilised egg.

• In the wild, males mate with multiple females in a dominant harem system, and the dominant female’s eggs are usually given priority in the nest.

• Even infertile eggs are incubated for a short period in some cases, as the females may not immediately distinguish them from fertile eggs.

Yes, male ostriches also help incubate the eggs.

• In a communal nest, the dominant male usually takes the responsibility of sitting on the eggs at night, while females often incubate during the day.

• This division helps protect the eggs from predators and regulate temperature.

• Male ostriches are larger and darker in colour, which also helps camouflage the eggs at night, while the lighter-coloured females blend in during daylight hours.

This teamwork ensures the eggs stay safe and develop properly until hatching.

Male and female ostriches differ in size, coloration, and behaviour:

• Colouration:

  • Males are strikingly black with white wing and tail feathers.

  • Females are mostly grey-brown with lighter underparts, providing camouflage while nesting.

• Size:

  • Males are usually taller and heavier, weighing 100–150 kg (220–330 lbs) and standing 2–2.8 m (6.5–9 ft) tall.

  • Females are slightly smaller at 90–120 kg (200–265 lbs) and 1.7–2 m (5.5–6.5 ft) tall.

• Behaviour:

  • Males are more territorial and display-oriented, performing courtship dances and booming calls to attract females.

  • Females are more focused on nesting and caring for eggs and chicks, often taking daytime shifts incubating eggs.

Males are the showy protectors and courters, while females are the camouflaged caregivers.

Male and female ostriches have different colours due to evolutionary adaptation and their roles in survival and reproduction:

• Males (black with white feathers): Their striking coloration is used to attract females during courtship displays and assert dominance over other males. The dark plumage also absorbs heat at night, helping them stay active in cooler conditions.

• Females (grey-brown): Their muted, camouflaged colours help them blend into the environment, especially when sitting on nests during the day. This reduces the risk of predators spotting eggs or chicks.

The colour difference is a combination of sexual selection and survival strategy, allowing males to display and attract mates while females remain hidden and protected.

Yes, ostriches are the largest birds in the world.

• Height: They stand 2–2.8 metres (6.5–9 feet) tall, with males generally taller than females.

• Weight: Adult males weigh 100–150 kg (220–330 lbs), while females are slightly smaller at 90–120 kg (200–265 lbs).

Ostriches are exceptionally strong birds, especially given that they are flightless. Their strength is mainly concentrated in their legs, which are adapted for running and defence:

• Leg power: Their long, muscular legs can deliver kicks strong enough to kill predators, including lions and hyenas.

• Running endurance: They can sprint up to 70 km/h (43 mph) and maintain high speeds over long distances.

• Body strength: Their large, heavy bodies (up to 150 kg / 330 lbs for males) allow them to withstand impactswhile running or defending themselves.

• Wing strength: Though not for flight, their wings help with balance and agility during fast sprints or sharp turns.

In short, ostriches combine speed, leg power, and body mass, making them formidable animals despite being flightless.

Ostriches are unique among birds because they have only two toes on each foot, unlike most birds, which have three or four.

• Main toe: The larger, inner toe bears most of the bird’s weight and has a large, sharp claw used for defence against predators.

• Smaller outer toe: Provides balance while running, acting like a stabiliser.

• This two-toed adaptation helps ostriches run at high speeds efficiently, giving them incredible stability and traction on the savannah.

In short, ostriches’ two-toed feet are a specialised adaptation for running and survival.

Yes, ostriches can be dangerous, especially when they feel threatened or cornered. Despite their flightless nature, they have several ways to defend themselves:

• Powerful kicks: Their strong legs can deliver a kick capable of killing predators, including lions and humans if provoked.

• Sharp claws: The large claw on each foot acts like a sword, making their kicks even more dangerous.

• Size and strength: Adults are tall (up to 2.8 m / 9 ft) and heavy (up to 150 kg / 330 lbs), making them formidable opponents.

• Aggressive behaviour: Males can become territorial during mating season, and females may defend nests with sudden charges or strikes.

There are two living species of ostrich:

1. Common or North African Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

   • The most widespread species, historically ranging across North Africa and the Middle East, though now mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa.

   • Several subspecies exist, including the South African ostrich (S. c. australis).

2. Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes)

   • Found in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia, Ethiopia, and northern Kenya.

   • Distinguished by blueish skin on the neck and thighs and some differences in plumage.

Both species are flightless, large, and adapted for running, but they occupy different regions and show slight physical and behavioural differences.

Yes, ostriches are considered quite intelligent for birds, especially given their size and social behaviour.

• Problem-solving: They can figure out how to access food and water in challenging environments.

• Social intelligence: Ostriches live in groups, communicate with a variety of vocalisations, and use alert signals to warn the herd of predators.

• Memory and navigation: They remember feeding sites, water sources, and safe areas, which is crucial for survival in the open savannah.

• Learning ability: They can recognise individuals and adapt behaviours based on past experiences.

Despite their large body size, ostriches have relatively small brains compared to mammals of similar size.

• The ostrich brain weighs about 40–42 grams (1.4–1.5 ounces).

• Most of their brain is devoted to basic survival functions, vision, and movement coordination rather than complex reasoning.

• Their intelligence comes more from instincts, social behaviour, and learned survival skills than from sheer brain size.