Picture of a Group of Flightless Female Ostrich Birds (Struthio camelus) on a Plain in Kenya

Image number: 0003-0709-2909-1105

Description: Royalty-free wildlife stock photo of a group of flightless female Ostrich birds (Struthio camelus) on a plain in Kenya, running away from the camera.

Ostriches typicall weigh between 200 and 285 pounds, however some male ostriches have been recorded with weights of up to 340 pounds! Most of the feathers on the males are black with some white on the wings and tails.

Females and young males have grey-brown and white coloring. Males use the small vestigial wings for mating displays as well as the wings being used to provide shade for the chicks. The feathers are soft and the purpose is for insulation. The and different compared to the stiff airfoil feathers of flying birds and ostriches have claws on two of the fingers of the wings.

Ostriches lack feathers on their strong legs. The birds stand on two toes, and the bigger one looks like a hoof. This adaptation, unique to Ostriches, aids in running.

At sexual maturity of 2-4 years of age, male Ostriches can be between 6 feet and 9 feet tall, and female Ostriches range from 5.5 ft to 6.5 feet tall. The chicks grow about 10 inches per month during their first year. At one year of age the birds weigh about 100 pounds. Ostriches can live up to 75 years!

Similer royalty-free photos of OSTRICHES

more...

Keywords: royalty-free, stock photography, stock photos, pictures, images, graphics, posters, fine art prints, africa, african animal, african animals, aves, bird, birds, eastern africa, female ostrich, female ostriches, flightless bird, flightless birds, kenya, ornithology, ostrich, ostriches, republic of kenya, struthio, struthio camelus, struthionidae, struthioniformes, wild animals, wild birds, wild life, wildlife