Ostrich

The ostrich or common ostrich (Struthio camelus) is either one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member(s) of the genus Struthio, which is in the ratite family. Starting in 2014, the Somali ostrich is now considered a full species separate from the common ostrich.^[1]
The ostrich shares the order Struthioniformes with the kiwis, emus, rheas and cassowaries. However, phylogenetic studies have shown that it is the basal extant member of Palaeognathae and is thus equally closely related to flighted tinamous.^[3][4] It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs, and can run at up to about 70 km/h (19 m/s; 43 mph),^[5] the fastest land speed of any bird.^[6] The ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest eggs of any living bird (extinct elephant birds of Madagascar and the giant moa of New Zealand laid larger eggs).
The ostrich's diet consists mainly of plant matter, though it also eats invertebrates. It lives in nomadic groups of 5 to 50 birds. When threatened, the ostrich will either hide itself by lying flat against the ground, or run away. If cornered, it can attack with a kick of its powerful legs. Mating patterns differ by geographical region, but territorial males fight for a harem of two to seven females.
The ostrich is farmed around the world, particularly for its feathers, which are decorative and are also used as feather dusters. Its skin is used for leather products and its meat is marketed commercially.^[5]


Ostriches normally spend the winter months in pairs or alone. Only 16 percent of ostrich sightings were of more than two birds.^[5] During breeding season and sometimes during extreme rainless periods ostriches live in nomadic groups of five to 100 birds (led by a top hen) that often travel together with other grazing animals, such as zebras or antelopes.^[14] Ostriches are diurnal, but may be active on moonlit nights. They are most active early and late in the day.^[5] The male ostrich territory is between 2 and 20 km² (0.77 and 7.72 sq mi).^[9]
With their acute eyesight and hearing, ostriches can sense predators such as lions from far away. When being pursued by a predator, they have been known to reach speeds in excess of 70 km/h (43 mph),^[5] and can maintain a steady speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), which makes the ostrich the world's fastest two-legged animal.^[33][34] When lying down and hiding from predators, the birds lay their heads and necks flat on the ground, making them appear like a mound of earth from a distance, aided by the heat haze in their hot, dry habitat.^[35][36]
When threatened, ostriches run away, but they can cause serious injury and death with kicks from their powerful legs.^[14] Their legs can only kick forward.^[37] Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in sand to avoid danger.^[38] This myth likely began with Pliny the Elder (AD 23–79), who wrote that ostriches "imagine, when they have thrust their head and neck into a bush, that the whole of their body is concealed."^[39] This may have been a misunderstanding of their sticking their heads in the sand to swallow sand and pebbles,^[40] or, as National Geographic suggests, of the defensive behavior of lying low, so that they may appear from a distance to have their head buried.^[41]