Female ostrich in Tsavo West National Park, Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, East Africa.

Female ostrich in Tsavo West National Park, Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, East Africa. Ostriches are the heaviest and largest living birds, with adult common ostriches weighing anywhere between 63.5 and 145 kilograms and laying the largest eggs of any living land animal. Although flightless, they are the fastest birds on land, running up to 70 km/h (43 mph). They are farmed worldwide, with significant industries in the Philippines and in Namibia. Ostrich leather is a lucrative commodity, and the large feathers are used as plumes for ceremonial headgear. Ostriches are of the genus Struthio in the order Struthioniformes, part of the infra-class Palaeognathae, a diverse group of flightless birds also known as ratites that includes the emus, rheas, cassowaries, kiwis and the extinct elephant birds and moas. There are two living species of ostrich: the common ostrich, native to large areas of sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, native to the Horn of Africa. // The A109 road Nairobi-Mombasa and a railway divides Tsavo West National Park from the adjoining Tsavo East National Park. Together with adjoining ranches and protected areas, they comprise the Tsavo Conservation Area.

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Filename: 24.02AFR-4996.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com
Image Size: 4443x3332 / 5.5MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Animalia Aves animal avian bird nature vertebrate wildlife
Contained in galleries: KENYA safari, 2024 Feb AFRICA: TANZANIA, KENYA, VICTORIA FALLS

Female ostrich in Tsavo West National Park, Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, East Africa. Ostriches are the heaviest and largest living birds, with adult common ostriches weighing anywhere between 63.5 and 145 kilograms and laying the largest eggs of any living land animal. Although flightless, they are the fastest birds on land, running up to 70 km/h (43 mph). They are farmed worldwide, with significant industries in the Philippines and in Namibia. Ostrich leather is a lucrative commodity, and the large feathers are used as plumes for ceremonial headgear. Ostriches are of the genus Struthio in the order Struthioniformes, part of the infra-class Palaeognathae, a diverse group of flightless birds also known as ratites that includes the emus, rheas, cassowaries, kiwis and the extinct elephant birds and moas. There are two living species of ostrich: the common ostrich, native to large areas of sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, native to the Horn of Africa. // The A109 road Nairobi-Mombasa and a railway divides Tsavo West National Park from the adjoining Tsavo East National Park. Together with adjoining ranches and protected areas, they comprise the Tsavo Conservation Area.