• Popularly known as ‘Camel Bird’.

• It is an inhabitant of semi- arid region of African, American and Syrian deserts.

• Largest of all living birds (Adult male is 2.5 m in height and 150 kg in weight; female smaller than male).

• Average speed while running is 40-50km/hr.

• Hens incubate the eggs during day time and male during night time.

• It has a small featherless head, short and flat beak, long neck which is naked.

• Heavy trunk and rudimentary wings, long and strong legs and very short tail.

• Wings are stretched and used as balancers while running.

• Legs are well developed for running on sand, foot is broad heavily padded and hook-like and has only two toes.

• Ostrich is an omnivore, its favourite food items are seeds, berries and plants.

• It swallows stones, bones etc… to help the grinding of food in the gizzard.

• Its digestive enzymes are powerful and can digest almost anything.

• As a defense adaptation it crouches low with neck and legs extended along the anterior portion. In this defense the bird become invisible due to its cryptic colouration.

• Its strong legs and feet are used as powerful weapons in offence and defense.

• They are gregarious and polygamous.

• A cock has a harem of 2-7 hens. All hens are co –operate in making a common nest in sand. They lay 10-25 eggs in nest.

DESERT ADAOTATIONS OF OSTRICH

• Long and strong legs for running fast on sand.

• Reduction of toes into 2 in each leg for running on sand.

• Broad, heavily padded and hoof – like for easy walking and running on sand.

• Ability tom stretch and the wings for balancing the body while running fast.

• Flapping the wings to increase the speed of run.

• High water tolerance.

• Cryptic colouration, which enable merging with the background.

• Crouching low on sand with its neck and legs extended to escape from enemies.

• Thick and very hard egg shell.

• Newly hatched young ones are precautious.