By the late 19th century they were on the verge of extinction because of overhunting. The development of ostrich farms has helped to curb the hunting of wild ostriches and to bring them back from the brink of extinction. Still, the four subspecies of ostrich are carefully watched by preservationists. The ostrich is the largest living bird, measuring up to 10 feet tall and weighing up to 340 pounds. In addition to its size, the ostrich's long, featherless neck, long, powerful legs, and small head with its large eyes and short, flat bill, ensure that you'll probably never mistake an ostrich for another bird.
Males have black and white plumage, while females have gray-brown plumage.
These big birds are unable to fly, but they can run up to 30 miles per hour, with bursts of over 40 mph when pursued. They outrun most of their natural predators. In order to hide from predators, ostriches sit with their neck and head outstretched on the ground. It is this defensive position that led to the incorrect belief that ostriches hide their heads in the sand to avoid detection. Should a predator spy and catch up to an ostrich, the ostrich's strong legs and clawed toes provide an excellent defence.