Ostrich

The largest and heaviest of all living birds, the **ostrich** (*Struthio camelus*) is instantly recognisable, with its long, bare neck, large body and long, sturdy legs. Despite its relatively small head, it is also notable for having the largest eyes of any land animal, measuring an impressive five centimetres in diameter, and protected by long black lashes. The adult male ostrich has black plumage, with a white tail and primary feathers, and a bright pinkish or blue neck in the breeding season. The female is smaller and is grey-brown in colour, while immature birds resemble the female, but are slightly darker. Four subspecies are recognised, differing mainly in the colour of the neck and legs of the male, and in the amount of feathering on the head. Not needed for flight, the ostrich’s feathers are unusual in that they lack the tiny hooks that hold the feather together, so leaving the barbs (the ‘branches’ of the feather) loose, and giving a very soft, smooth plumage. The ostrich is also the only bird to have just two toes on each rather prehistoric-looking foot. The inner toe is thick and strong, adapted for running, and is armed with a formidable, ten centimetre long claw, which can be used in defence. The ostrich has quite an extensive vocal repertoire, using a variety of whistles, snorts and guttural noises to communicate, as well as other sounds such as bill-snapping. The male also produces a loud “booming” call, which sounds rather like the roar of a lion and is produced during display, or at night when a predator is near. Despite being flightless, the ostrich can run up to 70 km per hour, making it the fastest running bird!

## Collection Chamber Games (Resurrected Time)

Zoo Tycoon 2 Ultimate Collection (Polar Bear & Ostrich get reincarnation)Zoo Tycoon 2 Ultimate Collection (African Elephant & Ostrich get reincarnation)
The **Common Ostrich**, referred to as the **Masai Ostrich** in *Wildlife Park*, is a large African bird. It is an adoptable animal in all three *Wildlife Park* games.

## Description

The Common Ostrich is the largest species of bird in the world, weighing up to 145kg (320lbs) and 2.8m (9ft 2in) in height. Although flightless, it can run at speeds of 55km/h (34mph), sometimes faster, making it the fastest of all birds on land. The species displays distinct sexual dimorphism, with males being primarily black with white wing- and tail-feathers and the females being brown all over. Other notable features include its large eyes, said to be the largest of any land vertebrate, and its two-toed feet, unique among birds.

Ostriches are native to the savannahs of Africa. They are mainly herbivores, eating seeds and grass, but will occasionally eat insects. A male ostrich will mate with multiple females, who will in turn lay all their eggs in a single nest. The male and a single "major" female will then take turns incubating the eggs and raising the young once they hatch, with the major female's eggs being kept in the centre of the nest. It is believed that the act of moving the eggs in the next lead to the belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand to avoid predators.

## Wildlife Park

The Common Ostrich, identified as the **Masai Ostrich**, is an adoptable animal in *Wildlife Park* and is available in the base game.

## Wildlife Park 2

The Common Ostrich is an adoptable animal in *Wildlife Park 2* and is available in the base game.

## Wildlife Park 3

The Common Ostrich is an adoptable animal in *Wildlife Park 3*. It is available in the Africa expansion pack.