(Struthio camelus)
Ostriches are the largest (to 8 ft. tall and more than 300 lbs.) of all living birds. Ostriches travel across Central African deserts in bands of up to 50, often with herds of zebras and antelopes. When threatened, an Ostrich will run -- as fast as 30 mph. This is a flightless bird with rudimentary wings. The structure of the wing is the same in principle as that found in flying birds, and the wing quills are well developed though stunted or in the form of soft feathers. Ostriches in captivity will hiss and kick. They do well in zoos, where some have lived for more than 25 years.
The loss of the ability to fly was apparently caused by the increase in body weight, which resulted also in atrophy of the flight muscles and the absence of a keel on the breastbone. The legs, on the other hand, are very strong, enabling the bird to run at great speed for long distances.
The head, almost the whole neck and the legs are either bare or covered with down, the other parts of the body with feathers -- black in the male and brownish grey in the female. The wings and tail of the males are adorned with wonderful white plumes which were once highly prized by man. The foot has only two toes. The Ostrich feeds mainly on plants but its large bill indicates that it is capable of capturing even small vertebrates. It swallows small stones to help the stomach in grinding up its food.
The courting male, called a cock, presents an awesome sight as he dances before a female, swaying his head, feathers ruffled, buckling his legs, bristling and spreading his wings and puffing up his neck.
The female lays 10 to 12 eggs in one season. Their eggs may weigh as much as 3 lbs. and are incubated for about 40 days. Birds mature in 3 to 4 years.
