Nandu | Facts & Information

Origin

Nandu ostriches are typical running birds, inhabitants of the steppes, but also of regions with rare bushes.

The Indians considered the nandu ostrich the best game and if this species had not multiplied so quickly, it would probably have been long gone. With patience and skill, camouflaged with bundles of grass and branches, the Indians approached at a distance from which they could aim with a bow.

Nanduul has the ability to run very fast, to tire and confuse and the best horse through the skill with which he sneaks out of the most complicated situations.

The nandu ostrich belongs to the order Rheiformes and the family Rheidae.

Feeding The Nandu Bird

Their food consists of tender green leaves, which they graze off the ground, but also of seeds, insects and other small animals. Farmers value Nandu ostriches because they clear the surroundings of snakes, locusts, scorpions and spiders.

Sometimes you can see ostriches mixed between horses and cattle, but still they shy away from dogs and people.

Features Of The Nandu Bird

They are smaller in size than African ostriches and have three toes. The male and female have almost equally coloured plumage.

The only difference is that the female is smaller and has slightly lighter colors.

The wings are provided with long and soft feathers that hang, have a role of attraction during mating, but also a role of ease of running by being away from the body.

They can reach a height of 0.9-1.5 m and weight of 15-30 kg.

Breeding The Nandu Bird

They make their nests hidden in tall grass in savannahs. The male has five to seven females laying their eggs in the same nest.

Thus a ponta reaches CA. 16-50 eggs of yellow-whitish color. They are hatched only by the male who will then lead the chicks.

The brooding period lasts 36-44 days. The chicks emerge from the eggs in early February and have the body covered with fluff with dark longitudinal stripes. Chickens grow very quickly, after the first five days they run away so quickly that a human can not reach them.

For the first five weeks the Cubs follow only their father, then the female joins the family. Often, several families associate and then whole flocks of ostriches can be seen living together in the Savannah.