Did You Know an Ostrich Cannot Fly?

Birds come in all shapes and sizes, and while they all have wings -- not all of them can fly, including the Ostrich. Lisa Chelenza has more about the Ostrich in this edition of Pet Pointers.

The Ostrich is the largest living bird on the planet and at around 9 feet tall, they have few predators.

This flightless bird is too heavy to lift itself from the ground but with its strong long legs it can easily out run most predators with a top speed of over 40 miles per hour. And for hunters that prefer a face to face challenge the powerful feet and claws of these birds are a serious deterrent.
 
Working with the ostrich every day owner and operator of "The Wild" animal park in Chittenengo New York, Jeff Taylor shares what he loves about these giant birds.

"They are actually fairly graceful, they can run very fast, and that is part of their defense. They come from Africa, so they have to be on the defense, everything wants to hunt them and eat them. They have to have a way to get away, and although they look awkward, they can run very fast," Taylor said.

There are approximately 10,000 known species of birds in the world but none are quite like the ostrich.
So, an Ostrich may not be a practical pet but many other birds like parrots and cockatoos can make great companions. Just be sure you have the time energy and resources to care for them properly.