Ostriches - typically found in Africa - hold the record for a lot of things; they’re the largest living bird in the world as adult males can get up to 2.75 metres tall and lay the largest eggs, which can weigh up to 2kg each.
While they’re quick runners with speeds clocking in at around 70km/h recorded, it has been said they don’t run away from doing their part when it comes to the domestic side of things.
In fact, it has been claimed that male ostriches are known to incubate the eggs in their nest, a role shared with the females.
Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
The flightless birds tend to live together in small herds with fewer than a dozen individuals. The alpha male of the herd will mate with the group's dominant hen, as well as the other females.
The females will then lay their eggs in a shallow communal nest that’s dug into the ground by the alpha male.
These nests are usually around 30 to 60cm deep and 3 metres in diameter, hold approximately 25 eggs and are known as “dump nests”.
Then male and female ostriches will take turns incubating the eggs; females will take the day shift, while the males will take on the night shift.
The males’ black plumage helps camouflage the nest from the prowling eyes of nocturnal predators.
Ostrich eggs often take between 42 to 46 days to incubate, and even after the eggs hatch, male ostriches will help care for the hatchlings. Talk about equality!
References:
https://www.
https://www.britannica.com/
https://biologyinsights.com/
https://birdfact.com/articles/
