Chester Zoo Ostriches

[OrangePerson]

Just curious - when I was at Chester earlier in the year the ostriches were carefully tending eggs - do they hatch successfully?

 

[zoogiraffe]

Shouldn`t think so they are both suppose to be females if you believe the annual report and not your eyes as they look like a male and female.

 

[bongorob]

Apparently some female ostriches do have black plumage. Another fact I've learnt from this amazing site.

I assumed they were a true pair but the annual report listing of 0.2 seems to be correct.

 

[Pertinax]

Apparently some female ostriches do have black plumage. Another fact I've learnt from this amazing site.

Is that a 'morph' variation- or is it due to advanced age? In some birds, notably Pheasants, waterfowl etc, old females sometimes take on male plumage to an extent.

 

[bongorob]

I don't know, someone did post about it. I think it is to do with age, but I could be wrong.

 

[Writhedhornbill]

I think it's known as turning gynandrous.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I think it's known as turning gynandrous.

As in female turning into male? A phenomenon that has been quite well documented in domestic chickens is that failing any male competition the most dominant female will change over to male characteristics and behaviour (failing any competition from a true born male).

 

[zoogiraffe]

As in female turning into male? A phenomenon that has been quite well documented in domestic chickens is that failing any male competition the most dominant female will change over to male characteristics and behaviour (failing any competition from a true born male).

That would seem to be what has happened at Chester!

 

[Bele]

In domestic poultry do the 'females turned to male' become functioning fertile males or do they just look like a male ? I am aware that in certain species of fish the sex change is total .

 

[Pertinax]

A phenomenon that has been quite well documented in domestic chickens is that failing any male competition the most dominant female will change over to male characteristics and behaviour

I know one or two female Gorillas that seemed to do that too...

To answer Bele's question- I think in the chicken(or other bird) cases the female may behave like a male- even crowing- but couldn't fertlize eggs?