5 captivating ostrich facts

The ostrich holds the record of being the world's largest bird. Ostriches can grow up to 9 feet (2.7m) tall and half of their height is always accountable to their necks. They weigh a lot but the females weigh less than the males. An average male ostrich weighs over 330 pounds (150 kg) while the females weigh around 320 pounds (145 kg).

They have the ability to stay a long time without water. Ostriches can last up to 2 weeks without water. They get their water from the food they eat and they have the ability of raising their body temperature in order to limit water loss.

Ostriches have long legs ranging around 10 and 16 feet which are popular for being really fast. They have just two toes unlike the regular three toes birds have. This enables them to run faster as their toes can serve as hoofs. Ostriches can cover over 45 miles (72 km) an hour.

Ostriches are omnivores. They do eat plants as well as animals. They eat everything, from roots, to insects, plants, lizards, etc. However, they do not have teeth. In order to digest their food, they swallow small stones to help break it down.

Ostriches do not bury their heads in sand. Yes! They have the nesting habits of using their heads to dig a shallow hole in the ground but they do not hide their heads in the ground. They need to have their eggs, which are kept in the holes, rotated multiple times in a day, that is why it always seems like their head is being buried in the ground.