on our planet is currently home to over 10,000 species of birds.Almost all of them can fly.But among them there are a separate group of birds called the people ponderous giants.They not only know how to fly, but can not even get off the ground!They have wings and some do not, and the solid decorative appendages.Of course, we are talking about true ostriches and their distant kinsmen - emu, cassowary and rhea.Photos of all the birds you can see in this article.So, today we will tell you about the amazing flightless birds, their records, as well as detail the ostrich with the charismatic title rhea.
Who are the ostriches?
Strauss (photo 1) - is the largest bird in the world.Ornithologists have found that adult males of these giants can grow to a height of 2.5 meters and weighs almost a quintal!In addition, adult ostriches while running can reach speeds up to 50 km / h and run as 30 minutes.They have well-developed hearing and vision.All of these capabilities provide excellent protection from ostriches modern predators.The exception is a man who has learned to skillfully to hunt these amazing creatures of nature.
Why ostriches do not fly?According
once concepts of physics calculations, ornithologists have concluded that travel through the air with the help of active flapping flight, and only rely on the strength of their own muscles can only those birds whose weight does not exceed the mark of 12 kilograms.Larger birds can only plan in the air by updrafts.What can we say about the heavy ostriches!These giants have existed in the age of dinosaurs, but even then they could not get off the ground.
It is interesting that, for example, the South American ostrich called rhea, though not fly, but even very close to the upper boundary of the weight range flying birds.For example, a large rhea pull 25 kilograms, and its small "colleague" - Darwin's rhea - generally does not exceed 15 kilograms.Perhaps once these creatures vzmoyut the sky.Speaking of the body weight of modern ostriches can not mention about their kind of ranking.
Who is he - the largest ostrich in the world?It
African ostrich (photo presented in the article).Currently, he is the biggest and strongest member of the class of birds in the world.It stipulates that the largest African ostrich reaches a height of 2.7 meters and weighs 130 kilograms.Some ornithologists and mention about the special weight of 150 kilograms.Females of these giants grow only up to 1.9 meters and weigh between 75 and 96 kilograms.
whom to second place in the ranking of feathered giants?
Think it's an ostrich rhea?No!This southern cassowary, living on the island of New Guinea.In size and weight of his body, he was ranked second in the ranking of the largest birds in the world.Its weight - 80 kg at body height of 1.5 meters.It got its name because of the peculiar grow up in a helmet on his head.
largest owls.Third place
honorable third place in the hierarchy of birds heavyweight awarded popular worldwide emus.Weigh the creation of up to 50 kilograms.The length can be up to 1.9 meters.Emus live in Australia and belong to the order kazuaroobraznyh.Despite its impressive size, these creatures try to avoid densely populated areas, arid zones and dense forests.
Who is this ostrich rhea?
Nanda - a kind of ostrich, belonging to the family of flightless birds, representing nanduobraznyh squad.His birthplace - South America.For this South American rhea called (or American) ostrich.Nanda - the bird, which can be easily dubbed "double" African ostrich!The fact that it looks very much like the creation of the largest bird in the world, but the extent of their relationship is still a matter of discussion and scientific debate among ornithologists.
inhabited rhea?
They are widely distributed throughout Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and, of course, Brazil.Some of their species - Darwin's rhea - occurs in the south of Peru.These creatures most prefer open areas savannoobraznogo type, such as mountain plateau of the Andes, or the so-called Patagonian lowlands.Northern rhea can be seen in the lowest areas with warm climates.Recently, scientists have made a whole discovery of Darwin's rhea can dwell on the heights of up to 4.5 kilometers, and the subpolar extreme south of South America.
The American ostrich eats?
Nanda, like most other ostriches eat anything that gets their feet.In other words, it is - omnivorous bird.In particular, they eat broadleaf plants, fruits, seeds, rhizomes, trees, insects, and even small vertebrate animals (rodents, frogs).Nanda, like camels, can long time without water.The fact that this need they easily fill of food intake.
Like many other large flightless birds, the creatures regularly swallow stones gastroliths to help them grind the food in the stomach.The people walking the view that the rhea - fearless destroy poisonous snakes.It should be noted that it is erroneous.Ornithologists still had no documentary proof, no such case.
Nanda.Lifestyle
As a rule, the South American ostrich - follower day lifestyle.Prevent live day he would be only an extremely hot weather.At this time, rhea awake in the evening or night hours.These birds prefer to stay in herds of 10 to 35 individuals.In such a family usually consists of several males, several females and young.These creatures - polygamous, ieone male in the mating season "serve" several samochek.Females lay their eggs in the nest general.Incubation lasts for 6 weeks, after which the light appears ostriches.
Why ostrich named rhea?
The whole point of his peculiar voice.American Ostrich publishes growl large predator such as a lion, than a real bird sounds.Moreover, when the creation of bawl, you can clearly hear the word "nan-doo."That's the word for the name stuck, and the ostrich come in many languages.Bird watchers have noticed that these sounds emanate mainly from males in the mating season.Incidentally, rhea may make other sounds hoarse.They serve as a signal of danger and warn neighbors.In anger, the ostrich can sizzle.
