Common Ostrich

The common ostrich is the largest living bird species in the world, native to the savannas and semi-arid plains of Africa, standing up to nearly three metres tall and capable of running at speeds of over seventy kilometres an hour, making it the fastest land bird. It cannot fly, but its long, powerful legs, each ending in just two toes, an adaptation unique among birds, allow it to cover enormous strides and deliver a kick strong enough to injure or kill a predator such as a lion. Male ostriches have striking black-and-white plumage while females are a duller greyish brown, and the species lays the largest egg of any living bird, weighing around 1.5 kilograms, in a communal ground nest that several females may share and a dominant male helps guard. Common ostriches are farmed commercially in many parts of the world for their meat, feathers and leather, and while some wild populations have declined due to hunting and habitat loss, the species overall remains widespread.