The Struthio camelus (scientific name) or ostrich is native to Africa. 6.0-9.5 feet in height, these large flightless birds have mostly black plumage (grey in females). The primaries and tail feathers are white. It has long feet and a long thin neck, which is nearly bare excepting for a thin layer of down which is whitish-grey. Their diet is mainly comprised of seeds, grass, shrubs, flowers, fruits and insects. Since they lack teeth, they swallow pebbles to grind food in the gizzard (part of their digestive tracts). Its one nest can hold 4-78 eggs from 15-50 different females. The female identifies its own eggs, and incubates them jointly with the male for 35-45 days. Its IUCN listing is the LEAST CONCERN.
Ostrich
