Differences between Ostrich and Sparrow

Ostrich and Sparrow are two classes of birds that belong to the Struthionidae and Passeridae families respectively.

Ostriches are the tallest and heaviest birds on the planet. They are flightless birds but are tremendous runners. They have long legs built with muscles strong enough to even kick a lion. These terrestrial birds have a long neck and sloppy feathers. They have a small brain, three stomachs, and large brown eyes with black lashes. The plumage of adult male is black with white marks and white tail, while that of the adult female and young males is a combination of grey, brown, and white. The birds do not have feather on their head and neck. There are two living species of Ostriches, namely, Common Ostrich and Somali Ostrich.

Sparrows are one of the most commonly found birds in the world. They are petite birds with a round head and small beak that is shaped like a cone. Their plumage is either brown or grey with white streaks. The feather on their belly is usually white. The birds have a long and stiff tail. An interesting fact about Sparrows is that they have a bone in their tongue. As these are perching birds, they have clawed feet with three forward-pointing and one backward-pointing toe. Sparrows are songbirds that make chirping sounds. There are over 140 species of these birds in the world. They are generally classified as Old World species and New World species. Sparrows are mentioned in mythology and the Bible. Their earliest fossils, found in caves in Israel, are dated back to over 100,000 years.

Where are Ostrich and Sparrow found?

Ostriches are found in the savanna, plains, woodlands, and deserts of Africa. They like open lands with grass and vegetation. The birds also like to bathe in water. Ostriches now exist only in the wild in African countries like South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, and Sudan.

Sparrows prefer thick forests, open fields, agricultural farms, and fringes of forests. However, a large population of Sparrows also live in the parks, gardens, and buildings of cities. The Old World species of Sparrows originally belong to Asia, Africa, and Europe. The New World species have been introduced in North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

What do Ostrich and Sparrow eat?

Ostriches are herbivores. They eat seeds, fruits, flowers, roots, and plants. However, if food is scarce in the habitat, Ostriches also eat insects, rodents, lizards, and small tortoises.

Sparrows are omnivores. They largely eat seeds and grains like cereals, wheat, rice, oats, and corn. They also eat insects and worms. Occasionally the birds eat human food refuse.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Ostrich and Sparrow

• Ostrich do eat Fish while Sparrow may not eat Fish.
• Both Ostrich and Sparrow eat Frogs.
• Both Ostrich and Sparrow eat Lizards.
• Ostrich do eat Snakes while Sparrow may not eat Snakes.
• Neither Ostrich nor Sparrow eat Turtles.
• Neither Ostrich nor Sparrow eat Squirrels.
• Ostrich and Sparrow do not eat Gophers.
• Both Ostrich and Sparrow do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Ostrich do eat Mice while Sparrow may not eat Mice.

Size of Ostrich and Sparrow?

When it comes to size, Ostriches are the largest birds in the world. They are seven to nine feet tall. The male birds are taller at about nine feet, while the females do not grow over six feet. The birds have a wingspan of about six feet.. The size of Sparrows depends on the species. The average size is however 0.5-0.6 feet in length. Chestnut Sparrow is the smallest Sparrow with a length of 0.4 feet, while the Parrot-billed Sparrow is the largest with a length of 0.59 feet.

Ostriches are also the heaviest birds. Their average weight is 140-320 pounds. while The average weight of the Sparrow is 0.84 ounce. The weight of the Chestnut Sparrow is 0.5 ounce and that of the Parrot-billed Sparrow is 1.5 ounce.

Where do Ostrich and Sparrow nest?

Ostriches cannot reach the top of trees or cliffs. Therefore, they make their nests by digging holes in the ground. The nests, which are generally common for a group of Ostriches, can accommodate up to 60 eggs. The dominant male bird digs out mud to make the nest. Male and female birds take turns to incubate the eggs, which hatch in 42-46 days. The young ostriches will be able to walk on the second or third day. The parents protect their young ones from heat by covering their heads with their feathers. They keep them in their guard till the young ones are about seven months old, by when they grow to a height of six feet.

Sparrows build their nests in holes and cavities of small trees, in shrubs, and buildings. They prefer their nests to be closer to the ground. The nests generally look spherical and measure eight to 10 inches in diameter. The female and male partners construct the nest using straw, twigs, roots, leaves, grass, paper, thread, wool, and feather. The eggs are completely white, or bluish white, or greenish white with brown spots. Both partners incubate the eggs. The eggs hatch in 10-14 days. The young ones that are fed by both parents fledge in about two weeks.

How long do Ostrich and Sparrow live?

The average lifespan of Ostriches in the wild is 30-40 years. In unprotected places, the birds face threats from predators like lions, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards, and crocodiles. They also lose their lives to ruthless hunting. In captivity, Ostriches are known to survive until they are 70 years.

Sparrows are known to live for four to seven years. Some species can even live up to 20 years. The House Sparrows live until 23 years in captivity.

Are Ostrich or Sparrow migratory birds?

Ostrich is not a migratory bird. However, it may travel due to scarcity of food, difficulty finding nutrients, or increased threat from predators.

Not all Sparrows are migratory. The ones from Canada, North America, northern parts of Europe, and east Asia migrate during winters. The House Sparrows typically do not migrate as they do not encounter harsh weather or scarcity of food in any time of the year. Among the migratory species, American Tree Sparrow migrates from North America and Canada to the USA, while the Savannah Sparrow travels from Alaska to the USA. In northern and central Europe, migration takes place among Eurasian Tree Sparrow that relocates to Africa. The Russet Sparrow is a species from Himalayas that spends its time in south-east Asia during winters.

Do Ostrich and Sparrow fly in flocks?

A flock of Ostriches is called a herd. It typically consists of 12 birds with a male leader and a female leader. The male is more dominant and tries to control the female birds in the herd. There is also a pecking order that the members of the herd must follow. Outside the herd, Ostriches congregate in groups of about a 100. They are sociable, which gives them the ability to stay safe from predators. Additionally, Ostriches also graze in the company of zebras, antelopes, and giraffes, alerting them when there is a predator.

A group of Sparrows is called a flock. The birds are highly sociable. They live in colonies of about 20 birds, which may even extend to about a 100. The birds are always found in groups, foraging, flying, and roosting together. Their nests are also built next to each other during the breeding season. Sparrows are also intelligent birds. They are known for cooperation and teamwork. The birds work together to find food, build nests, preen feathers, and remove lice and parasites from their skin. They chirp incessantly to let their group know about where they are. As Sparrows are tiny birds, living in large flocks also helps in intimidating the predator and also mobbing the predator if required.

Are Ostrich or Sparrow protected?

There are no laws in Africa to protect the birds. However, there are organizations involved in Ostrich farming, which provides a habitat for the birds and ensures that their population does not decline.

Not all species of Sparrows are protected. For example, the House Sparrow is not protected in the USA. It has partial protection in the UK, where shooting it with a licence is allowed. The species is fully protected in Canada.

Are Ostrich or Sparrow endangered?

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has categorized Ostriches as a species of least concern. However, the organization has listed the North African Ostrich as critically endangered. These birds were present in about 18 countries in North Africa. However, they exist in only four countries as in 2020. The steep decline in their population is attributed to uncontrolled hunting.

Sparrows are not endangered but their numbers are on a steep decline. Factors affecting the population of Sparrows are loss of habitat, scarcity of food, urbanization, radiation from mobile towers, pollution, use of pesticides in farmlands, and hunting.

Can Ostrich and Sparrow fly?

Ostriches are flightless birds. However, they are the fastest running birds in the world. With their long and powerful legs, these birds can run at a speed of 40 miles an hour. They can cover about 10 feet in a single step. The birds use their wings to maintain balance while running.

Sparrows fly by taking off directly, flapping their wings, and folding their legs. Their average flying speed is 24-31 miles an hour. The altitude range they can fly at varies for different species. While most of them normally fly at around 500 feet, some fly at around 2,000 feet. During migration they fly 5,000-20,000 feet high and cover 15-600 miles in a day. Sparrows fly in flocks because they are tiny birds and flying in groups supports energy conservation. It will also help them spot and threaten predators. On the ground, Sparrows are commonly seen hopping. They jump forward and backward for scraping mud, leaves, or grass with their toes and search for food underneath.

Can Ostrich and Sparrow swim?

Ostriches are not regular swimmers. They enjoy water and swim rarely. Their swimming gait is similar to walking.

Sparrows are not regular swimmers. However, they can swim fast to escape from danger. Some species like the House Sparrow can even swim under water. Sparrows regularly bathe in water, sometimes even in a puddle. They wiggle in water to loosen up the dirt on their feathers and to control body temperature.

Mating patterns among Ostrich and Sparrow

Ostriches reach sexual maturity when they are three to five years old, the females earlier than the males. In the mating season, the color of skin on the male’s head and neck changes along with a change in the color of the beak. The males chase each other and perform elaborate dances to woo the females. The dominant male of the herd mates with three to five females. All female Ostriches of the herd lay their eggs in the nest of the dominant female. The eggs are protected and incubated by the dominant female and her partner. It generally takes 36-45 days for the eggs to hatch.

Depending on the species, Sparrows start mating when they are five to nine months old. The birds mate in small colonies. During courtship, the male hops around the female with inflated chest, raised tail, and slouched wings. He also chirps and sings for her. The partners copulate until the female can lay eggs. They produce nearly four broods in a breeding season. The female lays one to eight eggs in a clutch. Both partners incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.

When is the mating season for Ostrich and Sparrow ?

The breeding season for Ostriches is April-October every year. During this time, the birds are extremely active and participate in ritualistic courtship.

The mating season for sparrows depends on geography. It can range from March to August. The courtship can begin as early as January.

Do Ostrich and Sparrow mate for life?

Ostriches are not monogamous. The males mate with three to five females every mating season. They however form life-long partnership with the dominant female. The females are however monogamous during the mating season and change partners every year.

Sparrows mate for life. They remain monogamous throughout their life and return to the same nesting territory every year. When one of the partners is lost or dies, the surviving partner finds another mate within a few days.

How do Ostrich and Sparrow sleep?

Ostriches rarely get tired and seldom sleep. During the night, they go through a slow wave sleep pattern, where their eyes are open and they are alert with the neck held upright.

Sparrows roost in large groups while perching on trees. They may even shelter inside tree holes and cavities. They draw together to stay warm on cold nights. Their usual sleeping posture is head tucked inside plumped up feathers.

Can Ostrich and Sparrow be eaten?

Ostriches are widely eaten, especially in Africa and Germany. In fact, there are about 150 Ostrich farms in Germany. People relish Ostrich meat akin to beef. Ostrich meat is known to be rich in nutrition. There are also no laws preventing people from killing and eating Ostriches.

Sparrows are widely consumed by people. They are a delicacy in French, Italian, Japanese, and German cuisines. As the law in most countries provide protection only to some species of Sparrows, obtaining the bird meat for food is not restricted.

Can you hunt Ostrich or Sparrow?

There are no legal restrictions on the hunting of Ostriches. In South Africa, Ostrich hunting is a sport offered on safaris. Hunting activities are charged on hourly basis.

Sparrows are hunted for their meat. They are considered a pest by farmers, who kill them to save their crops. Hunting Sparrows is allowed in some countries, while killing them with a licence is permitted in few others.

Can you feed Ostrich or Sparrow?

In farms and zoos, Ostriches are given leafy green vegetables, grass, corn, carrots, berries, seeds, and insects. In captivity, attention is given to the nutrient composition of the diet of Ostriches.

Sparrows can be fed with a mix of seeds, corn, millets, fruits, and insects.