What Are Ostrich Wings For? A Detailed Explanation of Their Main Functions

The ostrich is the largest and heaviest bird in the world. Because it is inconvenient for it to forage in the air, it had to stay on the ground, and over time its wings degenerated and it became unable to fly. However, its wings still have the following major uses: when it runs with the wind, spreading its wings makes them look like a ship's sail, which can increase its speed; when fighting, spreading its wings can make it look more imposing and scare off enemies; under the scorching sun of the desert, spreading its wings is like a huge sunshade, bringing shade to the chicks; during courtship, the male spreads his large wings in front of the female, as if dancing, to lure her.

Why can't the ostrich fly?

The ostrich cannot fly not because of the size of its wings or its muscle capacity, but because it lacks the flight feathers and tail feathers with a flying function, as well as the uropygial gland.

The ostrich's body weight is too great, and it often forages and moves on the ground. Over a long period of time, its wings began to degenerate. Among its feathers there are no longer flight feathers and tail feathers with a flying function, and there is even less the feather maintenance organ, the uropygial gland——this is the thing used to secrete oil to protect the feathers from deforming. Some parts of flying birds do not grow feathers, which are called the feather tracts and bare areas, but the ostrich's feathers grow evenly distributed over the entire body surface, with no distinction between feather tracts and bare areas. So wanting to fly is naturally out of the question.