The Common ostrich is distinctive in its appearance and has the fastest land speed of any bird. When being pursued by a predator, the bird may reach speeds in excess of 70 km/h (40 mph), or possibly 80 km/h (50 mph) and can maintain a steady speed of 50 km/h (30 mph) – this makes the Common ostrich the world's fastest two-legged animal. When lying down and hiding from predators, the bird lays its head and neck flat on the ground, making it ...
appear like a mound of earth from a distance, aided by the heat haze in its hot, dry habitat. When threatened, Common ostriches also run away, but they can cause serious injury and death with kicks from their powerful legs. They can often outrun most of their predators in pursuit, so most predators will try to ambush an unsuspecting ostrich using obstructing vegetation or other objects. Overall, due to their speed, vigilance, and possibly dangerous kick, ostriches are significantly avoided by most predators, including lions, leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs.
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