Ostrich

Description

The ostrich is the biggest and strongest bird in the world, although it cannot fly; it can however run at a speed of about 70 km/h. They have a long neck and small head, with large eyes protected with very thick eyelashes. The beak is short and wide and their legs are their most powerful weapons. The gender is easy to distinguish: the male’s body is black and the wings and tail white, whereas the female’s body is brown and the wings and tail a whitish colour. 

Ethology

They are polygamous with harems of 3-5 females, and they all lay their eggs in the same nest built by the male. The females in a same group lay about 25 eggs weighing almost 1.5 kg. The dominant female and the dominant male take turns to incubate the eggs for approximately 42 days. Afterwards, it is the male who will take charge of caring for the chicks. 

Interesting facts

Indiscriminate hunting, illegal commerce, large human population densities and certain farming practices, together with desertification and regional wars, have caused practically the extinction of the ostrich in the north and centre of Africa. Their preservation for financial interests has resulted in them being bred on farms.