The ostrich is the largest bird in the world. It lives mainly in hot countries. There are some strange rumors and myths around this animal. For example, it is believed that ostriches bury their heads in the sand at the sight of danger. Whole legends have already been formed about this, anecdotes have been invented, various cartoons have been drawn, etc. However, few people know that all this is nonsense of a gray mare!
Why does an ostrich hide its head in the sand?
It is hardly possible to find an objective and scientifically correct answer to this question. In general, according to legend, he does this solely for his own safety. When an ostrich is frightened, its head, buried in the sand, apparently helps the bird to cope with the danger. In fact, this is a common joke. Ostriches don't hide their heads anywhere, and this is a fact!
Moreover, these are very intelligent birds, accustomed to fleeing from danger, like all prudent representatives of the fauna, fleeing from it. Surprisingly, these birds are able to run a huge distance at a speed exceeding 75 km / h, and if they are threatened with a very serious danger, then ostriches give a streak of up to 97 km / h!
Why do people think that ostriches hide their heads in the sand?
The first version. This fable dates back to the times of Ancient Rome. It was then that the conquerors conquered foreign lands and brought home various true and not so stories about new lands, about new animals discovered there, etc. Ostriches are lovers of flat areas. Their food on the plains is grass, for which one must constantly bend over. This is where the dog is buried: when some stranger saw an ostrich holding its head in the grass for a long time, it seemed to him that the bird had buried it in the sand! The land is filled with rumors quickly.
Second version. There is another version of the origin of the myth of ostriches hiding their heads in the sand. The fact is that this bird often bends to the sand to eat it. This is necessary so that pebbles get into the stomach, contributing to faster digestion of food. Visually, this procedure again resembles an ostrich with its head buried in the sand. By the way, in the stomach of an adult bird there can be up to 2 kg of stones!
Third version. The next version misleads even skeptics. Often, observers can see ostriches rolling on the hot sand with their heads down. This picture, of course, will lead the layman to a dead end, but the specialist will immediately guess what is the matter. And the fact is that ostriches love to roll on the hot sand, lowering their head on it. So they get rid of various parasites that live in their feathers and on the skin.
Version four. Ostriches are indeed very shy birds. Perhaps the legend that they bury their heads in the sand at the sight of danger arose because of their unusual and peculiar hide and seek. Moreover, these creatures often tilt their heads to the ground in order to listen carefully if they are in any danger.
It is worth noting that it was thanks to this fable that the expression "bury one's head in the sand" appeared, which means the fear of some business, the avoidance of certain decisions. This is exactly what ostriches do not do!
