Lehigh Valley Zoo - Smart Fun

Struthio camelus

Habitat: Grasslands, drier and sandy regions of central and southern Africa
Diet: Various flowers, grasses, foliage off of trees and shrubs, insects, and small lizards.

Reproduction: Exact pattern varies geographically. Ostriches form bisexual groups with a complex structure. Territorial males compete for flocks of 3 to 5 hens. Elaborate displays, including hisses and other noises, are often used by males to intimidate each other. Once divided into mating groups, ostriches in some areas use communal nests to hold anywhere from 15 to 60 eggs. The nest is a hole scraped in bare ground. The average egg is 6 inches in length, 5 inches in width, weighs about 3 pounds, and is shiny and whitish in color. Eggs take approximately 40 days to hatch. Caring for their eggs is divided up between males and females. Males watch over them during the night, and the various females of the mating group take turns during the day.

Behavior: Ostriches are good at running and can reach a steady speed of 31 mph. One stride can be 10 to 16 feet! Though they cannot fly, ostriches are fleet, strong runners. They can sprint up to 43 miles (70 kilometers) an hour and run over distance at 31 miles (50 kilometers) an hour. They may use their wings as "rudders" to help them change direction while running. Ostriches live in groups ranging in size from 5 to 50 members. Normally these groups are found near grazing animals such as zebra and antelope. They like water and when given the chance they will take baths.

Physical Description: Ostriches stand six to nine feet tall making them the tallest birds on the planet. An ostrich's powerful, long legs can cover 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 meters) in a single stride. These legs can also be formidable weapons. Ostrich kicks can kill a human or a potential predator like a lion. Each two-toed foot has a long, sharp claw. Males have black feathers covering most of their body, with a white underbelly. Females have grayish brown feathers covering their body. Their claws are four inches long and are used as a thrashing defense against predators

Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

	African tribes use ostrich shells as a means of holding water for bathing and drinking.
	Ostriches were almost wiped out in the 18th century due to hunting for feathers and hides. With the introduction of ostrich farms, wild ostrich numbers have increased.
	Ostriches are the largest living birds. Ostriches do well in captivity and may live up to 50 years both in and out of the wild.
	Sometimes, in order to escape detection, ostriches may lie on the ground with their necks outstretched. This peculiar behavior probably gave rise to the myth that ostriches bury their heads in the ground.