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FACTS ABOUT: Ostriches ostrich

Definition: ostrich  Play ostrichpronunciation  An ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird in the world, famous for being tall, having long legs,
and not being able to fly.

Fun Facts


1. What is an Ostrich: An ostrich is a magnificent, giant bird native to the hot savannas and deserts of Africa, and it holds the title of the largest living bird on Earth: it is a feathered giant.


2. Flightless Runners: Even though they have wings, ostriches cannot fly at all, but they make up for it by being the fastest running birds on two legs, zooming across the plains at speeds up to 40 miles per hour: they trade flying for running.


3. Super-Sized Eggs: Ostrich eggs are the biggest eggs in the entire world, weighing as much as two dozen chicken eggs combined, and they have shells so strong that an adult human can actually stand on top of one without breaking it: they are jumbo-sized breakfast treasures.


4. Giant Eyes: An ostrich has the biggest eyes of any land animal, with eyes that are actually bigger than its entire brain and measure about two inches across: they have giant windows to the world.


5. Defensive Kicks: When threatened by hungry predators like lions or leopards, ostriches don't hide, but instead use their powerful, long legs to deliver a kick strong enough to seriously injure an attacker: they pack a powerful punch.


6. Swallowing Rocks: Because ostriches don't have teeth to chew their food, they swallow small pebbles and sand that sit in their gizzard and grind up tough plants and seeds for them: they carry their own food processors.


7. No Head-in-the-Sand Trick: Despite the famous cartoon myth, ostriches do not actually bury their heads in the sand when they get scared; instead, they lie flat on the ground to blend in with the landscape or stand up tall to fight: they are brave desert survivors.