Why does an ostrich bury its head

An ostrich is a large kind of flightless bird native to Africa. They used to also be found wild all over Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, but the bird was hunted to extinction in those areas. Ostriches now live in captivity, from zoos to farms, all over the world. What is Ostrich Syndrome? It's a common myth that ostriches bury their head in the sand in the face of danger to avoid it.

People may do this in areas from finances to public speaking to confrontation. Why do ostriches eat sand and pebbles? Many birds do this.

What's the difference between an emu and an ostrich? Ostriches have two toes and can run up to 40 mph. Emus have three toes and can only run up to 30 mph. Ostriches can also grow up to double the weight of an emu at lbs. While ostriches come from Africa, emus originate from Australia. Sources American Ostrich Association. Cite This! Try Our Sudoku Puzzles! Ostriches are the largest living birds, but their heads are pretty small.

But they do dig holes in the dirt to use as nests for their eggs. Several times a day, a bird puts her head in the hole and turns the eggs.

So it really does look like the birds are burying their heads in the sand! So it's not surprising that people believe they also hang from branches. That skill isn't useful—there's no point. But the bird is probably learning to fly and shouldn't be disturbed.

The tale may have been invented to keep people from handling young birds. But you wouldn't want to mess with a vulture anywa. Some people think the bumps are contagious. But the wartlike bumps behind a toad's ears can be dangerous. If you ask me, we should all aspire to be so ostrichly! Friday, December 11, So where did this misconception come from?

What does an ostrich do when it senses a threat? Ostriches are no Chickens Hardly the cowardly head-burier, when running is not an option, these birds are not afraid to take a stand against an attacker. Did you know? Ostriches also lay the largest eggs of any bird, have the largest eyes of all land animals and, unlike all other living birds, they secrete urine and feces separately.

Want to learn even more strange ostrich facts? We believe that now, more than ever, the world needs people who care about science.