Page "Ostrich" Paragraph 10

Their skin varies in colour depending on the subspecies, with some having light or dark gray skin and others having pinkish or even reddish skin.

The strong legs of the Ostrich are unfeathered and show bare skin, with the tarsus ( the lowest upright part of the leg ) being covered in scales – red in the male, black in the female.

The tarsus of the Ostrich is the largest of any living bird, measuring in length.

The bird has just two toes on each foot ( most birds have four ), with the nail on the larger, inner toe resembling a hoof.

The outer toe has no nail.

The reduced number of toes is an adaptation that appears to aid in running.

Ostriches can run at a speed over and can cover in a single stride.

The wings reach a span of about 2 metres ( 6. 6 ft ), with the wing chord measurement of being around the same size as those of the largest flying birds.

The wings are used in mating displays and to shade chicks.

The feathers lack the tiny hooks that lock together the smooth external feathers of flying birds, and so are soft and fluffy and serve as insulation.

Ostriches can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.

In much of their habitat, temperatures vary as much as between night and day.

Their temperature control mechanism relies on action by the bird, which uses its wings to cover the naked skin of the upper legs and flanks to conserve heat, or leaves these areas bare to release heat.

They have 50 – 60 tail feathers, and their wings have 16 primary, four alular and 20 – 23 secondary feathers.