The Ostrich - Struthio camelus- is the world's tallest and heaviest bird. They
are flightless birds, found in savanna and arid regions of Africa.
Ostriches are strong runners and can sprint at speeds up to 43 miles (70
kilometers) an hour. Ostriches begin breeding at the age of 4 and their
lifespan is between 30 to 70 years.
Description
Adult males are
mostly black, with white primaries and a white tail. Females and young males
are grayish-brown and white. The head and neck of both male and female
Ostriches is nearly bare, with a thin layer of down. The skin of the female’s
neck and thighs is pinkish gray, while the male's is pinkish red. The neck and
legs are long and their eyes are largest of any land vertebrate. They have acute
eyesight and hearing.
Call
They have a pouch
in their throat and are used for communication. They make deep booming,
drumming, and grunting sounds.
Food
Food consists mainly
of plants, roots, and seeds. They will also eat insects, lizards, or other
creatures available when food is scarce. They swallow pebbles to grind food in
the gizzard. Ostriches get most of their water from the plants they eat.
Breeding
The Breeding
season is from March to September. The territorial male will breed with all the
females in his territory, but will only form a pair bond with the dominant
female. The females will lay their fertilized eggs in a single communal nest. The
dominant female lays her eggs first, and when it is time to cover them for
incubation she discards extra eggs from the weaker females. The eggs are
incubated by the females by day and by the males by night. The
eggs are incubated for between 35 to 45 days. The male defends the
hatchlings and teaches them to feed, although males and females cooperate in
rearing chicks. The Ostrich lays the largest egg of any living bird in the
world.
Conservation status – Least Concern
The wild Ostrich
population has declined drastically in the last 200 years, with most surviving
birds in reserves or on farms.
Bird watching
These amazing
birds can be seen on the following Aves
Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Arid Birding
Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East
Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Birding Tour
/ Safari / Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast
Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.