Facts about ostriches

Ostriches are amazing and in many ways unique. Inhabit only in quite hot countries, they do not really look like all other birds. Once, on the other hand, on the earth there were much larger flying birds, and carnivorous – judging by the finds of archaeologists, a few tens of thousands of years ago they delivered a lot of trouble to primitive people. Ostriches, fortunately, are much more peaceful.

  • In one step during the run, the ostrich can overcome from three to five meters.
  • Ostriches are the largest birds in the world.
  • The growth of this creation can exceed two and a half meters, and weight – one hundred fifty kilograms.
  • Contrary to the prevalent stereotype, in case of danger, ostriches do not hide their head in the sand. They either escape, or, being driven into a corner, fight off their powerful muscular legs. Striking an ostrich’s leg may well kill an unlucky predator.
  • Most land runners, for example, cheetahs or hares, are able to maintain high speed only at short distances. The ostrich is able to run at a speed of up to 50 km / h for quite a long time.
  • These birds are by no means vegetarians. They readily include in their diet various small animals and insects.
  • Ostriches sometimes swallow stones and sand, which, having got into their rough muscular stomach, help them to digest better the swallowed food.
  • These creatures live up to forty or fifty years.
  • An ostrich egg can reach a weight of 1.2-1.3 kilograms.
  • Unlike other birds, ostriches get wet in the rain – their feathers do not have a water repellent coating, as these creatures lack iron, which produces the necessary substance.
  • The ostrich’s eye is bigger than the elephant’s eye.
  • Among all the bipedal terrestrial creatures on earth, ostriches are the fastest. They are able to reach speeds of up to 97 km / h.
  • The ostriches roll in the dust to get rid of skin parasites.
  • Defending its territory, an ostrich can easily attack a person.
  • Ostriches are the only birds that have only two toes on their feet.
  • The ostrich’s eye, reaching five centimeters in diameter, is larger than the brain of this bird.
  • Wings are used by ostriches only during mating games.