The ostrich is the biggest living bird.
It is numero uno in other respects, too.
Intelligence is definitely not one of them.
To a human – this human, at least – the ostrich is one of “our” planet’s quirkiest birds.
The sheer weirdness of the ostrich is emphasised, I think, when you see one with its head lowered rather than raised.
No other living land animal has bigger eyes.
No animal lays bigger eggs.
No living bird is more massive.
An ostrich can run faster than any other living bird, and no other bird has such massive legs.
On average, its are the biggest feathers.
According to at least one source, the ostrich also has the most feathers.
Its huge legs notwithstanding, the ostrich’s feathers probably account for the highest proportion of any bird species’ adult mass.
Paradoxically, the most generously-feathered species are generally those which cannot fly, or are poor flyers.
Ostriches’ behaviour – to most human observers, at least – inclines to “unpredictable/erratic”.
However, ostriches never bury their heads in sand.
Click this for more about ostriches.
Photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken on 07 November 2022 in Etosha National Park, northern Namibia.