Schleich Wild Life: Ostrich Chick

Ostriches are flightless birds with large legs carrying them to swift speeds.

Ostriches are the largest living species of bird. Although they can't fly, they have very good vision and hearing, which means they can sense predators like lions from a great distance and quickly speed away. An ostrich can run up to forty miles per hour. Even if they don't manage to get away, though, their powerful kicks help defend them. Ostrich live in nomadic groups of up to fifty and often travel with other animals like zebras or antelope. They usually eat the seeds and nuts dropped when they rip the leaves and branches off of trees but are not above munching on locusts or other animals' leftovers. Since they don't have any teeth, they swallow small rocks to help them digest their food. As long as they have access to plants, they can go without water for a long time. (They do like water though, and really enjoying taking baths to cool off in the hot African sun.) Some ostriches live for seventy years!

Fun Facts: The weight of one ostrich egg is equal to two dozen chicken eggs.

Zoological Name: Struthio camelus
Conservation Status: Common
Primary Habitat: Grassland
Global Home: Africa