Ostriches are the largest living bird in the world and weigh in at around 156 pounds and 8 feet tall. They are native to Africa and can be found in the wild in countries like Ethiopia Kenya and Somalia. Ostriches are omnivores and their diet consists of plants insects and small animals.
While ostriches do not typically eat other birds there have been some reports of them doing so. In one instance an ostrich in a zoo was seen killing and eating a vulture. It is thought that the ostrich may have mistaken the vulture for a smaller more vulnerable prey animal.
There are a number of reasons why an ostrich might eat another bird. If the ostrich is kept in captivity it may not have access to a varied diet and might turn to other birds out of desperation. If the ostrich is wild and hunting for food it may mistake a bird for a small animal. Additionally if the ostrich is sick or injured it may resort to cannibalism.
While it is not common for ostriches to eat other birds it is something that does happen on occasion. If you are keeping an ostrich as a pet be sure to provide it with a varied diet to prevent it from becoming desperate and resorting to cannibalism.
Do ostriches eat other birds?
No
