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Ostrich eggs are the largest of all eggs, [4] though they are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the adult bird — on average they are 15 cm (5.9 in) long, 13 cm (5.1 in) wide, and weigh 1.4 kilograms (3.1 lb), over 20 times the weight of a chicken's egg and only 1 to 4% the size of the female. [5]
Ostrich eggs are the largest of all eggs, [68] though they are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the adult bird – on average they are 15 cm (5.9 in) long, 13 cm (5.1 in) wide, and weigh 1.4 kg (3.1 lb), over 20 times the weight of a chicken's egg and only 1 to 4% the size of the female. [69]
A large male ostrich can reach a height of 2.8 m (9.2 ft) and weigh over 156 kg (344 lb). [47] A mass of 200 kg (440 lb) has been cited for the ostrich but no wild ostriches of this weight have been verified. [2] Eggs laid by the ostrich are the largest in the world, weighing 1.4 kg (3.1 lb).
Two living species are recognised, the common ostrich, native to large areas of sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, native to the Horn of Africa. They are the heaviest and largest living birds, with adult common ostriches weighing anywhere between 63.5 and 145 kilograms and laying the largest eggs of any living land animal. [ 3 ]
Masai ostrich eggs are large (grapefruit-sized) and white in color. [10] [18] They measure 14–16 cm and weigh between 1.0 and 1.6 kg. [19] Egg hatching occurs during October and November, when eastern Africa experiences brief periods of rainfall that generates edible plants that are the Masai ostriches primary food source. [10]
A large male ostrich can reach a height of 2.8 m (9.2 ft) and weigh over 156 kg (344 lb). [172] A mass of 200 kg (440 lb) has been cited for the common ostrich but no wild ostriches of this weight have been verified. [173] Eggs laid by the ostrich can weigh 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) and are the largest eggs in the world today. [citation needed]
At 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) and up to 17.8 cm × 14 cm (7.0 in × 5.5 in), the ostrich egg is the largest egg of any living bird, [2]: 130 though the extinct elephant bird and some non-avian dinosaurs laid larger eggs.
The eggs measure about 9 by 14 cm (3.5 by 5.5 in) – only ostrich and emu eggs are larger. The male incubates those eggs for 50–52 days, removing or adding litter to regulate the temperature, then protects the chicks, which stay in the nest for about 9 months. He defends them fiercely against all potential predators, including humans.