biggest bird in the world is the African ostrich.And I must say that these birds grow really impressive size.Adult ostriches may be growing up to 2.7 meters and weigh at the same time it will be about 156 kg.But not only the large size of ostrich draw attention to it, but his manner and take care of the lady to sit, and then to grow the offspring and many other interesting features.
More about ostriches and their habits will be discussed in this article.
Where and how to settle the African ostriches
Ostrich lives in the hot African continent in the area of savanna and semi-desert, on both sides of the equator.All his life the male remains faithful to one dominant female.But since, in spite of this, polygamy in his family included, as a rule, a few of the fairer sex, among which he selects his "lady of the heart."And stalks the savanna ostrich family: male, dominant female, the females of some rank and ostriches.
You can often see these beautiful birds graze along with zebras and antelopes, making them long marches across the plains.Artiodactyls not chase them, because those, thanks to his excellent vision and high growth, may consider moving predator at a great distance - up to 5 km.
In case of danger by emitting a warning sound, this huge bird turns tail (and the speed of the ostrich in danger reaches 70 km / h).Herd same warning bird, also throws in all directions.So to have a sentinel herbivore very profitable!
little about the power of ostrich Ostrich
prefer not to see the danger, but it can not be considered a coward, because if the bird will still have to face with a lion or another attacker in combat it shows itself as a brave warrior.Strong ostrich feet - perfect weapon.One hit a limb is enough to severely injure, if not kill a lion or break a thick tree trunk.
No, do not hide your head in the sand bird ostrich.It just takes a precaution against the risk, and then only in the non-breeding period.And during nesting or if it is impossible to avoid the collision - meets all like a true warrior.Ostrich feathers raspushivaet and begins to move against the enemy, and if you are not lucky enough to escape - it will trample!Perhaps that is why this meeting with a bird try to avoid all the carnivores, because they are held by an ostrich at a respectful distance.
Ostrich - flightless bird
ostrich can not fly - it's a well known fact.So I ordered nature.He is poorly developed muscles in the thoracic spine, the wings are underdeveloped, and ostrich feathers, curly and loose, do not form a tightly closed rigid plate-webs.The skeleton was not pneumatic.
But this bird runs faster than a horse!Her long legs didactylism perfectly adapted for walking long distances and run.Already in the age of one month strausenka speed can reach 50 km / h.Running ostrich making steps, each of up to 4 m and may need to make a sharp turn, without slowing, and even prostrate on the ground.
By the way, how many fingers have an African ostrich, it helps a lot in the process of walking.Fingers birds - flattened, equipped with padded soles.In addition, only two of them and they are very similar in appearance a soft camel's hoof.No wonder the word "ostrich" is translated from the Greek as "sparrow camel."The larger of the fingers is provided with a bird something like and claw and hoof - it builds a bird during the run.
How does the African ostrich
What is the African ostrich, perhaps it is no secret - it is a bird with a long thick, without feathers, the neck, which is topped with a small flattened head with large eyes and beak.
soft beak, decorated on the upper mandible horny growths.You can not ignore the tremendous eye of an ostrich, pubescent long eyelashes.Each of them, by the way, has a volume of the brain of a bird.
Males plumage brighter than the females, which are decorated with gray-brown feathers with white tips dirty on the tail and wings.Their gentlemen boast black "Thrace» with bright white feathers on the wings and tail.
different subspecies of the African ostrich differ mainly in the color of the neck, feet, size and some biological features: the number of eggs in the nest, there is the presence or absence of bedding, as well as the structure of the egg shells.
like an ostrich creates a harem
During mating tokuyuschy African ostrich creates a harem.It spreads its wings, feathers raspushivaet and slowly kneels.Then, he throws back his head and rubs it on his back - such a "Gipsy" is not indifferent to the females, who allow themselves to cover and become members of one family.
However, in this harem is a "first lady" - the dominant female that chooses the ostrich once and for life.And the rest of the harem samochki may change over time."First Lady", of course, do not forget to periodically demonstrate who is the boss, giving his companion a thrashing.
The family of ostriches can easily determine the rank of each.Ahead is the father of the family, he followed with his head held high, "lady", followed, ducking his head, the rest are young and female woodcocks.
Speed ostrich - is not the only feature of his
strausihi lay eggs in one nest that dig into the ground or sand male.As a result, there is typed them up to 30 pieces, and the ostriches living in East Africa, and up to 60. However, the dominant female takes care of that it is located in central egg laying, and the rest - around.This is how the law of survival at the expense of strength.
ostrich egg - the largest in the world (it is 24 times more than chicken), but when you compare it with the size of the hen - it is the smallest!Here's a mishap!
dominant strausiha sitting on a clutch of day.It serves as a kind of air-conditioning for the eggs without letting them boil with the 50-degree heat.And at night they climb male, to save them from hypothermia.
How are ostriches
black African Ostriches are born after 40 days of strong, coated brownish sticking out in all directions, bristles, and weigh the chicks usually about 1.2 kg.They quickly learn to understand how and what to eat, and after a couple of months, replace your fluff such as the mother, feathers, but did not leave his family a further 2 years.
However, if in the Savannah cross the paths of two families from ostriches, each of them will try to capture the kids themselves and attach them to their brood.Because of this, there are families where typed to 300 pups of various ages.
a year ostrich is ready for independence, but for some time he will live with his brothers and sisters in the same pack.Until then, until it comes time to dance in front of a wonderful lady mating dance.
Emu - not an ostrich!
Now loop through from Africa to Australia.On this continent and in Tasmania lives much like the African ostrich emu bird.Until the 80s of the last century, and it was considered a relative of the ostrich.But then their classification has been revised and now they belong to the order Kazuaroobraznye.
After ostrich is the second largest bird.In height, it grows up to 180 cm and weighs 55 kg.And superficially resembles described emu bird, although the body is more compressed laterally and looks stocky and shorter legs and neck, which, incidentally, makes the whole a very different impression.
Emu (we'll call it the old fashioned way) has a black-brown color feathers and the head and neck was black.To distinguish males from females at these birds can only specialists, and that during the mating season.
Emu is also able to run
have unusual emu feather cover, which helps the bird to be active even in the midday heat.Feathers have had hairlike structure and resemble wool.Therefore, if the body emu, decorated with long feathers, looks like a live mop, then the neck and head of poultry are curly and stubby.
As African ostrich, it has a fairly long, strong legs.Only emu they are armed not two but three trehfalangovymi fingers.Speed ostrich in danger reaches 50 km / h, but it is not limited to birds talents.She still keeps excellent water and, in spite of its weight, can swim quite a long distance.As
breed emus Emu
eat mostly plant foods - herbs, roots, berries and seeds.However, in times of famine birds and insects do not disdain.Since emus do not have teeth, they, like African ostriches forced to swallow pebbles that gets into the digestive system of food could further pulverized.
Emu in nature have virtually no enemies, so live in small families - from two to five birds.In this family of one male and several females.The male emu - a wonderful father.They take all the burden of care for the offspring, from the moment when the female lays in a hole dug by them, a few eggs.
The fact is that, as the African ostriches, they take care of all the ladies just his pack, so the time to lay eggs comes from them almost simultaneously.I save them females are sent to the terminal that is demonstrated boyfriend.And so it turns out that in one place is up to 25 eggs from different females.Egg emu large, dark green, covered with thick shells.
male emu makes a parent feat
hatching eggs have been only male emu.It is set up on the nest, and the female, in contrast, leaves it as soon as all the eggs postponed.Incubation lasts 56 days.And the male no substitute.Sometimes he allows himself to get up to stretch his legs and walks around the nest or goes to drink water and eat along the way leaf or a blade of grass.This diet is a happy father and limited.
Emu lost during the incubation up to 15% of its weight, but it does not prevent them to be attentive and caring daddy when after 2 months they are born spotted and fluffy babies.
ostrich is not threatened with extinction
Beauty feathers and strength of the skin of these birds had almost led to the fact that they did not save even the famous ostrich speed in case of danger - them ruthlessly exterminated.So, in 1966, it was identified as an extinct kind of Middle East these birds.
But, thanks to the fact that since the end of the 19th century.It began their breeding farms, the total number of ostriches nothing more threatening.They are bred in almost fifty countries around the world, regardless of the climate.
This bird is unpretentious in content, can withstand large temperature changes, and the meat it, experts say, tastes like lean beef, not to mention the strong and beautiful skin, which is used to make various products, and eggs (eggs from oneostrich dish is twenty eggs).
feathers as the birds do not pull out and cut close to the skin twice a year.For this procedure, among other things, suitable only well-deserved - two-, three-year and older males.In individuals younger feathers have no marketable value.
