Ostriches

Summary
This is an introductory lesson about ostriches.

Objectives
• to describe and discuss ostriches and their habits;

• to describe some of the physical characteristics of ostriches;

• to describe and discuss some behaviors of ostriches.

Suggested Grades
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade

Excerpt
The ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird in the world. This bird lives in Africa in the African savanna and desert lands. It belongs to the Struthionidae family and Struthio genus. It is the only living species of its family and genus, but it has three living relatives: the cassowary, the emu, and the rhea. A full grown male ostrich weighs about 300 pounds and can be 6.9 to 9 feet tall. A female ostrich can weigh 240 pounds and is between 5.7 and 6.2 feet tall. The life span of an ostrich is 30 to 70 years, with an average of about 50 years.

Ostriches have flat heads and long bare necks and legs. Their bodies are covered with very smooth and soft feathers. As their feathers do not hook together or connect, their feathers always look messy and shaggy. They do not have the waterproof gland that many other birds have. This means that when it rains, their feathers will get very wet. Ostriches have very good eyesight. Their eyes are about 2 inches in diameter, making them the largest eyes of any land animal.

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