Ostrich

Did you know that not all birds can fly?

One of those birds is called the ostrich. Ostriches are the largest birds on Earth. They are found in different parts of Africa, including the Sahara Desert. Like most birds, they have beaks, feathers, and wings. Unlike most birds, ostriches cannot fly.

The main reason ostriches cannot fly is because of their large size. An ostrich can grow to be up to 9 feet tall. Its body is very heavy. It is so heavy that its wings cannot support it. However, what an ostrich's body can do is run. An ostrich can run up to 43 miles per hour. This helps ostriches get away from animals that might try to attack it.

Animals such as lions, leopard, hyenas, and wild dogs like to capture ostriches to eat.

Ostriches also have large claws on their feet. If they are caught by an attacker, they use their claws to get away. They can also kick really hard with their feet. However, sometimes if an ostrich thinks danger is coming, it does not run away at all. Instead, it stays right where it is.

Some people think ostriches bury their heads in the sand when they are scared. That is not true, but when an ostrich is scared, it does get down near the ground. It falls to the ground and lays its head and neck in front of it. This makes it look like the ostrich's head is buried in the sand.

To make sure they are not caught by predators, ostriches work with other animals where they live. The same animals that eat ostriches also eat zebras and wildebeests. The zebras and wildebeests help the ostriches find insects for food. This means the ostriches can spend more time watching for predators. When danger comes, they warn the other animals. Then they can all run for safety together.