Ostrich

CLASS

Birds

FAMILY

Struthionidae

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Struthio Camelus

WHERE IS IN THE PARK

Il Safari

The ostrich is the largest living species of bird. It belongs to the order of Struthioniformes and is a flightless bird. The distribution area is sub-Saharan Africa; it has been introduced in Australia and is raised all over the world. Its size is remarkable, with a height of at least two and a half meters and a 150 kg weight.
The neck, head and legs are bare and have a red-meat colour. The male has black feathers, except for the white tail and wings, while the female is greyish-brown with white wings and tail. The ostrich is the fastest land speed bird, reaching a top speed of about 70 km/h. Each foot has just two toes, which, thanks to fleshy pads, prevent the ostrich to sink in the sand despite its bigness. The ostriches feed mainly on plants and occasionally on invertebrates and small vertebrates.
It is a polygynous bird, one male controls 2 or 4 females, which lay the eggs in a common nest. The eggs are nested mostly by the males. The chicks are able to feed themselves within few hours after the hatching; in about two weeks time they have good running skills and are completely independent from their parents.

 

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