Common Ostrich

Ostriches are the largest bird on Earth! They are flightless, but they can run really fast, reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour with strides of 10 feet long. If cornered, they might kick—hard! Or, they might just lie down flat to be less visible. It’s a myth that they stick their heads in the ground to hide, though.

Male ostriches display their big, showy body feathers to attract females. Several ostrich pairs meet up together to lay their eggs in one shared nest. Both parents incubate the eggs, which are huge: about 5 inches long and weighing 3 pounds each! After being raised by its parents for over a year, ostriches search out mostly grasses, seeds and other plant parts in their dry habitats. An ostrich can live up to 50 years!