Ostriches bury their heads in the sand
| Ostriches bury their heads in the sand | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "When frightened, ostriches bury their heads in the sand to hide." | |
| Domain | Science & Space |
| Tactic | Fabrication |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | Ancient |
| Origin | Writings attributed to the Roman author Pliny the Elder, later a common saying |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-30 |
| Further reading: books on Science & Space | |
The image of an ostrich with its head in the sand is so familiar that "burying your head in the sand" means ignoring a problem. Children often learn it as a fact.
Ostriches do not do this.
What the evidence shows
- Nesting. Ostriches lay eggs in shallow holes dug in the ground and lower their heads to turn the eggs with their beaks. From a distance, that can look like the head is buried.
- Lying low. When threatened, an ostrich may lie flat with its neck stretched along the ground, which can blend in with the landscape.
- Running. More often, ostriches run. They can reach speeds of about 70 kilometers (45 miles) per hour.
Why it matters
A myth that started with misread behavior became a figure of speech. It shows how observation without understanding can create a "fact."
Sources
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, "Ostrich" animal fact sheet.
- National Geographic, "Ostrich."
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, "Ostrich."