The ostrich is a large flightless bird native to Africa. It can be found in countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia, Chad, Somalia, Mali, Sudan, and Mozambique. As well as being one of the largest living bird species, it is also one of the fastest running! But that's not all – they are capable of eating metal, can see ultraviolet light, and cannot turn their head!

Fun Facts About Ostriches

Nothing makes you feel more like a kid again than learning fascinating facts about ostriches. You won't be an ostrich expert in 10 minutes, but at least now you can wow your friends with the following fun facts:

1. Speed

The fastest ostrich can travel up to 70 kilometers per hour.

2. Sunburn

Females can get a sunburn under their feathers, so they must cover their body before molting and will have a much easier time with the subsequent molts.

3. Flightless Bird

Ostriches have wings but no feathers! Their long legs help them conserve energy during flight and keep them from getting too heavy for long distances.

4. Largest Eyes

Ostriches have giant eyes relative to the body size of any land animal. It takes a huge eye to process all that sand.

5. Not Your Typical Bird Beak

Ostriches are the only birds with beaks made of living bone, making them incredibly strong.

6. Speedometer and Compass

The end of an ostrich's beak is a speedometer and can also act as a compass, so they never get lost when walking in a straight line.

7. Largest Eggs

An ostrich's egg is the largest of any bird. Their eggs can weigh up to 1.4 kg and can be 15cm long. An ostrich's egg is 20 times bigger than that of a domestic chicken. However, the ostrich's egg is the smallest of any bird in relation to body size.

8. Extremely Aggressive

The ostrich is one of the most aggressive animals on the planet: they are territorial, very active, and fight each other to defend their home range. The males will charge at intruders and may even try to gore them. The fights usually result in both birds being injured.