Which Bird’s Eyes Are Bigger Than Its Brain?
The ostrich, often called the “dinosaur bird,” has eyes that are bigger than its brain. Ostriches also have the largest eye of any animal on Earth, with an eye that measures about 2 inches in diameter.
Adult male ostriches can grow up to 9 feet tall and weigh up to 350 pounds. Native to the African Savannah, they belong to the family of birds called ratites, which includes all flightless birds. Ostriches lack the hollow bones necessary to fly, but they are powerful runners. Although they do have wings, ostriches use their wings as rudders, which help them with changing direction when they run. Ostriches can reach top speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand, according to National Geographic. When cornered, an ostrich lies down in an attempt to blend in with the environment.
These social birds live in small herds of fewer than a dozen animals. There is usually an alpha male and alpha female that breed with one another. Though lesser hens occasionally breed, all of the fertilized eggs are incubated in the same nest and are protected by the dominant male and dominant female.