Whether you gathered with friends and family around your seder plate or celebrated Easter Sunday with your loved ones, the egg was most likely a part of your traditional holiday weekend. Here, learn about a very large egg, and the huge bird who is responsible for laying it—the Ostrich!
Common Name: Common Ostrich
Latin Name: Struthio camelus
Range: Originally Africa. Introduced to southern Australia.
Habitat: Open, arid plains.
Diet: Mostly plants, leaves, and seeds. Occasionally consumes small animals.
Conservation Status: Least Concern. However, there has been a decrease in range and population numbers.
The outstanding ostrich…
- Is largest, tallest and heaviest of all bird species.
- Has the largest eyes of any land animal—each one is bigger than the size of its brain!
- Is the only bird to have two toes per foot.
- Will occasionally eat small stones and pebbles to aid digestion.
- Cannot fly, but is the largest bipedal runner in the world. It can reach speeds of approximately 40 mph.
Think Easter eggs are bright and colorful? Check out how some artists decorate ostrich eggs!
Happy Holidays and Happy Birding!!!
Danielle & Michelle