Does an ostrich bury its head in the sand when in danger?

The rumor of "ostriches bury their heads in the sand when in danger" is well known in the animal world, and there is even a term named after it-ostrich policy. However, anyone with a little common sense can debunk this mysterious rumor. Let's take a look!

Does an ostrich bury its head in the sand?

Ostriches don't bury their heads in the sand when they are in danger. As a matter of fact, the ostrich has long legs and runs very fast. When it is in danger, it runs fast enough to get rid of the enemy's attack. If it does not bury its head in the haystack and wait for death, it is enough to avoid the attack of the beast.

The reason why ostriches bury their heads in the sand

From a distance, it gives the illusion that an ostrich buries its head in the sand, but in fact it only picks up food on the ground. In hot weather, this effect is reinforced on the hazy horizon. In addition, the ostrich lies flat on the ground when it feels threatened, making it sometimes look as if it had buried its head in the sand.

Ostriches bury their heads in the sand.

1. Hidden statement: ostriches live in hot desert areas, where the sun is strong, and the hot air rising from the ground intersects with the low-altitude cold air, resulting in sparkling mist due to scattering. Usually the ostrich always cranes its neck to look through the mist, but once it is frightened or discovers the enemy, it simply sticks its periscope-like neck flat to the ground, curls up and disguises its dark brown feathers as stones or bushes, coupled with the cover of mist, it is difficult for the enemy to detect.

2. Confused statement: in order to maintain the need for physical strength, the ostrich may suddenly stand still on the way to escape in distress, insert its head into the sand, and raise its buttocks so high that it takes a strange posture to confuse the "soldiers" and stop. The ostrich takes the opportunity to rest for a while, then increases its "bird strength" and flies away.

3. Ambush theory: desert explorers once witnessed another scene: when an ostrich ran away from an enemy, it suddenly inserted its head into the sand, followed by its neck, immediately turned its head back, and stretched its head out from under the sand. bend to the abdomen. This keeps your eyes out of the sand for observation. When the chasing beast pounced on it, he was unexpectedly kicked by its "iron leg". By the time he woke up, the ostrich had disappeared.

4. Other views: ostriches keep their head and neck close to the ground, and distant sounds can be heard, which helps to avoid danger as soon as possible, relaxes neck muscles and better eliminates tiredness. in the process of courtship, the male will bury his head in the sand after chasing and approaching the female, and the female will no longer hide, and it is even said that the ostrich buries its head in the sand to help digestion.