Common Ostrich

Ostriches are omnivores, which means they eat a variety of foods depending on what is available in their habitat. They mostly graze on plants, especially seeds, leaves, and roots. They also sometimes eat insects, small reptiles or amphibians, and rodents. Ostriches, like many other ground-dwelling birds, do not have teeth. They swallow sand and pebbles into their gizzard to help grind down food in their stomachs. 

At the Zoo, ostriches are fed a diet that includes prepared pellets made for their species, along with greens such as kale, spinach, endive, and alfalfa.

Up until the mid-1900s, common ostriches lived in many parts of Africa, the Anatolian Peninsula in Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. However, their range has become much smaller over time. Now, they are mainly found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert and in some areas of East Africa. Most of these ostriches are found in game parks where they are protected.

Common ostriches usually live in dry places like savannas and open grasslands. They can also be found in semi-deserts, where there are a few shrubs and small trees.

Predators of ostriches include animals like lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, and hyenas.

While ostriches are still found in certain areas, their numbers have decreased significantly over the past 200 years due to human activities. In the 18th century, hunting for feathers almost led to their extinction. By the mid-19th century, ostrich farming started to become popular, and it continues today. Ostriches are raised for their meat, feathers, skins, eggs, and fat.

One of the biggest threats to wild ostriches today is habitat destruction. This is mainly caused by domestic livestock overgrazing the land, which reduces the places where ostriches can live. As human populations grow, people move into areas that were once home to wildlife. The building of homes, roads, and farms further adds to the loss of natural habitats for ostriches.

Ostriches are large, flightless birds that are part of a group called ratites. Unlike flying birds, ratites do not have a bony keel, which is what helps attach the flight muscles to their breastbone. Even though ostriches cannot fly, they are incredibly fast runners! They have strong legs and long wings that help steer them as they run. Each leg has two toes, with the inner toe being thick and strong, boasting a 4-inch claw that can be used for defense. Ostriches can reach speeds of 35 to 40 miles per hour in short bursts, making them the fastest birds on land.

These birds have small heads on long necks and the biggest eyes of any land animal, which helps them spot predators from far away. Their pale necks have short, hair-like feathers, making them appear bald. During breeding season, a male ostrich's neck changes color, becoming bright pink or blue from its usual pale pink or white. Male ostriches have black, fluffy feathers on most of their bodies, while their wings and tails have white feathers. Female ostriches, as well as young ostriches, have gray-brown feathers. Ostrich feathers are different from those of flying birds, helping them to regulate their body temperature. They can lift their feathers to increase airflow and cool down when it’s hot. When it’s cold, they flatten their feathers to keep warm.

Ostriches can go several days without drinking water because they get moisture from their food. This allows them to thrive in dry environments. However, if they happen to find a watering hole, they’ll drink or take a bath to stay refreshed.

After finding a potential mate, a male ostrich puts on a special dance to impress the female. He bows, flaps his wings, shakes his tail, kicks up dust, and spins his head in a spiral. If the female likes the display, she will allow him to mate. A dominant male can mate with one or more females (hens) in his territory.

The first female to lay eggs becomes the dominant hen in the male's territory. Other females might lay their eggs in the same nest, which is just a shallow depression about two feet wide that the male scratches into the ground. The dominant hen puts her eggs in the center of the nest, ensuring that they have the best chance to hatch. Each female lays between seven and ten eggs at a time, so a nest can have up to 50 eggs! Ostrich eggs are six inches long and can weigh up to three pounds. Communal laying has advantages for an ostrich flock: more eggs successfully hatch overall in a nest protected by many than if each female ostrich has her own nest to incubate and protect. Laying eggs together in a communal nest has benefits for the ostrich flock. More eggs are likely to hatch when they are protected by several parents compared to if each female tries to take care of her own nest.

During the day, the hens incubate the eggs when their feathers help them blend in with the surroundings, while the male takes over at night. After about six weeks, chicks that are about the size of a chicken hatch. They are covered in soft, tan-colored feathers with brown spots to help them hide. Both the males and females work together to raise and protect the chicks. These chicks grow quickly—about one foot each month—and reach their full size by six months old. However, they don’t become completely mature until they are around three or four years old.

The ostrich uses many sounds to communicate, including whistles, chirps, hisses, and honks. The male makes a loud “booming” call by filling a special sac in their throat with air, which sounds like the muffled roar of a lion. These booming calls are made during mating season to call females over great distances. 

These birds are generally diurnal, which means they are awake during the day. They tend to be most active in the early morning and late evening.

Ostriches usually live in small groups or herds that consist of two to five members. In these groups, there is always one dominant male and one dominant female. During the breeding season, these herds can grow larger, sometimes containing between 12 to 50 ostriches.