Ostriches are amazing birds that come from Africa. They are the biggest birds in the world! Even though they can’t fly, they are super fast runners, making them the fastest birds on land.
Ostriches have long legs, long necks, and big, round bodies. They can weigh as much as 320 pounds (145 kilograms) and grow up to 9 feet (2.8 meters) tall. Their eyes are the largest of any land animal, even bigger than their brains! With their strong legs and two toes, they can run really fast, up to 40 miles per hour (70 kilometers per hour).
In the wild, ostriches can live for about 40 years, and some in zoos can live up to 70 years. They like to hang out in groups of 5 to 50 birds. They live in open areas with grass and sometimes in dry places, always looking for food and water.
Male ostriches have fluffy black feathers with white on their wings and tails. Female ostriches have grayish-brown feathers, which help them hide better when they are sitting on their nests during the day.
Ostriches lay their eggs in shallow holes in the ground. Both the mom and dad take turns keeping the eggs warm. The mom usually sits on them during the day, and the dad takes over at night. Ostrich eggs are huge, weighing about 3 pounds (1.3 kilograms), which is like two dozen chicken eggs!
When baby ostriches hatch, they are about 10 inches (25 centimeters) tall and weigh around 2 pounds (less than 1 kilogram). They have soft, light brown feathers with darker spots, which help them hide from predators.
Ostriches mostly eat plants like seeds, shrubs, grass, fruit, and flowers. Sometimes, they also eat insects and small lizards. Since they don’t have teeth, they swallow small stones to help grind up their food in their stomachs.
People have used ostriches for their meat, eggs, feathers, and leather for a long time. Today, ostriches are often raised on farms to make sure we have enough without hurting wild ostrich populations. They are also fun to see in zoos, and some people even race on them!
Even though there are fewer ostriches now than there used to be, they are not endangered. This means we can continue to enjoy and learn about these incredible birds for many years to come!
Ostrich Observation Journal: Start an ostrich observation journal! Draw a picture of an ostrich and label its different parts, like the long neck, big eyes, and strong legs. Write down some interesting facts you learned about ostriches, such as how fast they can run or what they eat. Share your journal with a friend or family member and teach them something new about ostriches!
Ostrich Egg Experiment: Create a model of an ostrich egg using a balloon and paper mache. Once it’s dry, paint it to look like a real ostrich egg. Compare its size to a chicken egg and discuss why ostrich eggs are so big. Think about how the size of the egg helps protect the baby ostrich inside. What other animals have big eggs, and why do you think that is?
Fast Feet Race: Have a “Fast Feet” race with your friends or family to see who can run the fastest, just like an ostrich! Measure out a short distance and time each person as they run. Talk about how ostriches use their long legs to run fast and why being fast is important for them. Can you think of other animals that are fast runners? Why do you think speed is important for them?
