Ostriches are one the largest and fastest running birds on this planet. They have the perfect body to run several miles in an hour and can outrun some of the fastest predators. Their running capability makes them dominant over many other birds. But despite being included in the bird category, Can Ostrich Fly?
No, ostrich can’t fly at all; they can only run. They have wings but not for flying as they have many other roles. The reason they can’t fly has puzzled scientists for a long time. Though they have wings and proper body shape, they are still flightless birds.
Let’s discuss more ostriches’ flying capabilities and why they are flightless.
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Do Ostriches Ever Fly?
No, ostrich can’t fly as they are included in ratites, but some past theories predict that these birds have flying ancestors. People believe that they are flightless ancestors, but recent discoveries have revealed that their ancestors can fly; like one of the Kiwi’s close relatives, named Elephant Bird, was found in Madagascar, while Kiwi is located in New Zealand, which reveals that these birds once used to fly and migrated from New Zealand. This shows that ostrich might be capable of flying in the Cretaceous Period.
Why Can’t Ostrich Fly?
Flightless birds are called Ratites; the ostrich and many other birds are included in this category. They have wings, but they lack keel, which helps birds in their flight. Keel is a ridge along the breastbone with which flight muscles are attached, enabling the bird to move in the air. Due to lack of this, their muscles can’t lift their body upward.
How Do They Move?
Unlike other birds, ostrich can’t fly, but this doesn’t mean they can’t move. Ostrich has strong, powerful legs that help them run at 60 mph. They are the world’s fastest running bird and can maintain a speed of around 30 mph for a long time. They can outrun their predators; mainly, they don’t have many predators. But lions and hyenas love ostrich meat, so their strong legs help to outrun these predators.
During this crazy race with predators, ostrich wings help them move in a straight line or change direction. Moreover, they have two-toed feet with a soft base so their feet can grip the ground properly without getting hurt.
Do Ostriches Have Wings?
Wings help birds fly, but an ostrich has wings to keep them balanced. Though they have strong legs allowing them to run faster, why do they still have wings? Its because their ancestors have wings means they are because of inheritance. Ostriches started gaining weight and forgot to fly, which was their downside.
Ostriches’ wings are called vestigial structures. These structures do not continue to perform the original function that their ancestors have to; instead, they forget and start performing other functions.
What Is The Purpose Of Ostrich Wings?
Ostriches don’t use their wings for flying; they use them for other purposes. Some of the functions that ostrich wings perform are as follows;
Balance
One of the essential functions of wings is to keep an ostrich balanced during running. They run to escape predators or to find a fresh grazing site. In both cases, they have to run faster to escape or find the place before others do. So their wings help them to stay straight and make a turn easily without falling, which other animals can’t do.
Attraction
Like many other animals, ostriches have to attract their females during mating season. They use their wings by performing a particular type of dance. Males bow their heads slowly and wave them at the same time. While doing this, they shake their wings’ feathers and move their tails upside down. The black and white males attract brown females by holding their wings out. If a female ostrich likes the dance and approves it, she sits beside the male whose proposal she likes most.
Chicks Protection
Ostrich is mainly found in African countries where the temperature is much higher, so females use their wings to provide shade to their infants on hot scorching days. Wings also help to cover the eggs and chicks from the heat.
To Show Dominance
Wings are used to express dominance over other ostriches. To pretend that he is the most powerful and dominant over others, he will raise his head and neck while opening their wings. While in the case of submission, the ostrich will lower his head and wings.
Which birds Can’t Fly?
Scientists have been trying to find the root cause of these birds who have wings but can’t fly. They recently found that when dinosaurs were gone, these birds used to eat more and more on the ground reading to increase their weight. However, scientists discovered that these birds could fly from their DNA. Some of the birds other than ostrich that can’t fly are;
- Kiwi
- Penguin
- Cassowary
- Steamer Duck
- Elephant Bird
Do Ostrich Glide Like Chickens?
No, ostrich can’t fly or glide because of the lack of keel, the bone with which flying muscles are attached, and the heavy body. They can jump while running but can’t glide from the elevation. You can consider their jump a glide but not like the chickens because they have lightweight bodies and are much smaller than ostriches.
Can You Ride An Ostrich?
Yes, you can ride an ostrich as they can carry a human weight easily. In some parts of the world, ostrich is used for racing; some people use ostrich for tourist attractions by giving them a short ride.
What Are The Uses Of Ostrich Feathers?
Ostrich feathers were used to make caps, hats, and boas in the last centuries. During the 19th and 20th centuries, their prices were as high as diamonds; these feathers were very valuable.
Summary
Ostriches possess wings but can’t fly because they lack a few structures and their heavyweight. Their wings are because of their ancestors; besides flying, their strong legs, pointed body, and wings help them achieve the fastest speed. Though they can’t fly still, their legs can kill a lion.
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