Have you ever watched National Geographic or Discovery Channel? If you have, then you might be familiar with this unique animal, which is Ostrich. Ostrich is a bird that can’t fly with large size and height. Size is the fact that distinguishes Ostriches from other birds. You can find the Ostrich’s natural habitat in the wild, especially in the African continent. Their habitat is a place with dry weather and minimal humidity like a savanna. Aside from Africa, Ostriches also have a wild population in Australia. The uniqueness of Ostriches have triggered many interests among animal lovers to analyze this unique animal’s lifestyle, especially since there are lots of fun facts about Ostriches that they can discover.
If you’re one of those people who love animals especially the Ostrich, then you might want to stick around. Make sure you stay with us because in this article, we have collected a list of fun facts about Ostriches that will amaze you.
Table of Contents
- 1. The Fastest Bird on Land
- 2. The Tallest and Heaviest Bird on The Planet
- 3. Has a Death Kick that Can Beat Lions
- 4. Can Survive Up To 70 Years
- 5. Very Small Brain Size
- 6. Ostriches Don’t Need to Drink Water
- 7. Ostriches are Stealth Sleepers
- 8. Ostrich Eggs are Big and Rich in Nutrients
- 9. Dancing to Attract Females
- 10. Ostrich Meat is Very Expensive
- 11. The Feathers are Soft, Loose and Smooth
- 12. Ostrich Swarms in Relatively Small Numbers
- 13. Why Ostrich Can’t Fly?
- 14. Ostrich Does Not Bury Head in Sand When Threatened
- 15. These Gigantic Creatures Can Swim
1. The Fastest Bird on Land
Let’s starts the list of fun facts about Ostriches with the fact that Ostriches are the fastest birds on land. Who would have thought that this flightless bird has an amazing speed, right? Based on the data released by the Guinness Book of Records, the Ostrich is a bird that cannot fly with the world’s highest speed. Do you know the top speed of the Ostrich? The Ostrich can run up to 70 km/h and this speed is equivalent to the speed of your motorcycle. This makes the Ostrich a bird with two legs that has the highest speed in the world. This speed can be obtained due to the long and slender legs. So, are you ready to race with the Ostrich?
2. The Tallest and Heaviest Bird on The Planet
Moving onto the last fun facts about Ostriches, in addition to being the fastest bird on land, the Ostrich also set another record. Yes, the Ostrich is the tallest and heaviest bird on the planet! The size of the Ostrich depends on its gender and age.
The older the Ostrich gets, the bigger the body. Male Ostrich can grow up to 9 feet tall and weight about 280 pounds or around 127 kg, while female Ostrich can reach up to 6 feet tall and weight over 200 pounds or about 90 kg! What a huge size for a bird! The large size and high speed possessed by the Ostrich make it the most interesting animal to observe, both its living habits and habitats.
3. Has a Death Kick that Can Beat Lions
If you are on vacation to Africa or Australia to see Ostrich with your own eyes, then you better be careful. This large bird may look cute and friendly at first, but they can launch dangerous and deadly attacks if they feel disturbed or cornered. When threatened, the Ostrich will aggressively launch a deadly kick that can overpower and kill even a lion. The very strong and long contours of the legs allow the Ostrich to kick as hard as possible.
Furthermore, during the breeding season, the Ostrich will be more and more aggressive and also cruel, especially for female Ostrich who’s incubating her eggs. The rapid movement to protect the eggs becomes very dangerous. Therefore, keep your distance when you want to see the Ostrich in person. An Ostrich can kick with a force of about 2,000 pounds per square inch, or about 141 kg per square cm. Crazy, huh?
4. Can Survive Up To 70 Years
You probably never thought that a bird could live so long. Typical birds only have a fairly short life expectancy of about 3-5 years. However, did you know there are birds that have a very long life? Yes, the animal is an Ostrich. In the wild, the average Ostrich can live up to 30 to 40 years. However, in captivity, the Ostrich can live up to 70 years. Age is an aspect that is strongly influenced by the environment and predators.
The Ostrich’s natural predators in the wild are lions, leopards, hyenas, and cheetahs. These predators can reduce the population of the Ostrich. Ostrich habitat can also be disturbed by human activities. Therefore, let’s preserve the Ostrich habitat so that the population can last and the Ostriches won’t extinct.
5. Very Small Brain Size
The brain is an essential organ that determines intelligence in both humans and animals. The brain is also a factor that determines vision and body movement. Do you know the brain size of an Ostrich? It is a surprising fact that the Ostrich’s brain is actually very small.
The total weight of the Ostrich brain is about 25 grams, and it weights even less than its two eyes, which is about 60 grams! Does this small brain size makes Ostrich stupid? The answer is no. In fact, the Ostrich’s brain is sufficient to accommodate the survival and natural instincts of the animal. The Ostrich can still see and move normally with a small brain.
6. Ostriches Don’t Need to Drink Water
All living things need water to survive. Water will maintain the balance of fluids in the body and deliver nutrients. However, did you know that birds don’t need to drink to survive? Yes, you read it right! In fact, the Ostrich can get water from the plants they eat. Plants have a water content that can fulfill the Ostrich’s fluid needs.
The dry and hot habitat has adapted the Ostrich to be able to survive without water. However, if there is a water hole, the Ostrich will put its head in to have a drink. They can also reduce water loss in the body when the weather is hot and dry.
7. Ostriches are Stealth Sleepers
The assumption that has developed so far is that the Ostrich sleeps with its head on the sand. However, it is an astonishing fact that the Ostrich never sleeps at all. The Ostrich’s eyes remain open even though they are asleep. A study conducted on 6 Ostriches in South Africa indicated that they have a deep sleep pattern with rapid eye movements.
When the Ostrich enters the sleep cycle, its head will begin to bow but with its eyes remain open. This sleep pattern is also owned by the Platypus, which is one of the ancient mammals. Because the Ostrich is also an ancient bird species, they have similar sleep patterns to the Platypus. In addition, the Ostrich and Platypus also have the same dream pattern.
8. Ostrich Eggs are Big and Rich in Nutrients
Eggs are the source of essential nutrients for the growth and development of human tissues. However, have you ever thought about consuming Ostrich eggs? In addition to having a gigantic size, Ostrich eggs are also rich in macro and micronutrients that are important for our health.
Ostrich eggs offer many benefits such as a source of protein and essential fats. Ostrich eggs contain 235 grams of protein, 100 grams of fat, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin A, which are important to prevent stunting in children. The size of one egg is equivalent to 20 chicken eggs. Moreover, Ostrich eggs also have a taste that is almost the same as chicken eggs. However, keep in mind that Ostriches are also protected, so it is illegal to eat their eggs.
9. Dancing to Attract Females
Ostriches have a special breeding season. The mating season will begin when the male Ostrich changes its skin color to a lighter tone. The male Ostrich will start dancing by fluttering his feathers and flapping his wings, while swinging his head and kneeling.
This is done to attract as many females as possible. In general, females will play hard to get by approaching and then just walking away. However, the male Ostrich did not give up and continued to dance until the female approached him.
10. Ostrich Meat is Very Expensive
We already know the fact that Ostrich eggs contain various nutrients that are good for human body. But have you ever thought about eating Ostrich meat? Its large weight produces a lot of poultry meat from one Ostrich. Ostrich meat has been traded for a long time, too.
Currently, the price of Ostrich meat is very expensive. This condition was caused by the high demand, which does not match with the adequate supply of livestock. Ostrich steak costs $90 per three pounds and filets at $13 per half a pound. So, have you ever tasted the Ostrich steak? Leave your answers below!
11. The Feathers are Soft, Loose and Smooth
Ostriches have special feathers. Do you know where the specialty of Ostrich feathers lies? Unlike other bird feathers, Ostrich feathers are soft, silky, and loose. This causes the Ostrich to be covered with thick and warm feathers. Ostrich feathers are usually brown, dark brown, and black. Do you know how much it costs for Ostrich feathers? In the 1880s, the Ostrich was priced at $400 or today’s $9,400 for a pound of feathers. What a fantastic price! For now, bird feathers are priced at around $0.98 – $1.20 per piece. Nowadays, this feather is often used at weddings as decoration.
12. Ostrich Swarms in Relatively Small Numbers
It is natural for animals to have groups in an effort to defend themselves from predators. The Ostrich has a long neck with sharp eyesight. This allows them to search the flock. Ostriches rarely have large flocks. In general, the Ostrich only has a small flock of 10 birds, even only a pair of male and female. Like other animals, the male Ostrich is the leader who builds and defends the territory. While the female is an egg producer.
13. Why Ostrich Can’t Fly?
You may have asked, why can’t an Ostrich fly? Ostrich like Emu, Kiwi, and Cassowary cannot fly like other birds, too. This is caused by a flat breastbone that cannot support the chest and wing muscles that they need for a flight. Their wings are too heavy and can only be flapped without being able to fly. This is what makes not all birds can fly due to anatomical factors.
14. Ostrich Does Not Bury Head in Sand When Threatened
The myth or assumption that the Ostrich buries its head in the ground is not true! Maybe you often see an Ostrich that sticks its head when threatened in cartoon movies. However, the fact is that the Ostrich does not bury its head when threatened. They will walk away or kick as hard as they can to fight off predators or when they feel threatened. This has been proven through scientific studies and observations by scientists. The results show that male Ostrich will protect the female when threatened. In one flock, the male Ostrich provides protection and does not bury his head in the ground when threatened.
15. These Gigantic Creatures Can Swim
We have come to the last fast in he list of fun fact about Ostrichs. Well, we know that the Ostrich can’t fly, but this gigantic bird can also swim. Is this even real? Yes, you must be amazed by the swimming ability of the Ostrich. Although we can rarely see the Ostrich swims, they can enjoy the puddle of water by swimming. When the Ostrich finds a lake, they will swim. The unique thing is the way they swim. Ostriches swim in a similar way when they run. The ostrich swims with a running pattern of movement. What a shocking fact!
Those are the best fun facts about Ostriches that impress animal lovers. So which fact is the most awesome for you? Give your answer in the comments column!
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