Editing Common ostrich (section)

===Predators===
[[File:Ultime grida della savana (1975) - Cheetah hunting ostrich 2.png|thumb|Young female chased by a cheetah]]
As a flightless species in the rich biozone of the African savanna, the common ostrich faces a variety of formidable predators throughout its life cycle. Animals that prey on ostriches of all ages may include [[cheetah]]s, [[lion]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[African hunting dog]]s, and [[spotted hyena]]s.<ref name="Davies"/> Predators of nests and young common ostriches include [[Lupulella|jackal]]s, various [[birds of prey]], [[warthog]]s, [[mongoose]], and [[Egyptian vulture]]s.<ref name="Bertram 1992"/><ref name=Thouless/> Egyptian vultures have been known to hurl stones at ostrich eggs to crack them open so they can eat their contents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230105897 |title=Egyptian Vultures ''Neophron percnopterus'' and Ostrich ''Struthio camelus'' eggs: the origins of stone-throwing behaviour|year=1987|website=ResearchGate}}</ref>

Due to predation pressure, common ostriches have many antipredator tactics. Though they can deliver formidable kicks, they use their great eyesight and speed to run from most of their predators.<ref name= Cooper/> Since ostriches that have detected predators are almost impossible to catch, most predators will try to ambush an unsuspecting bird using obstructing vegetation or other objects.<ref name="Bertram 1992"/> Some ostriches forage with other ostriches or mammals such as [[wildebeest]]s and zebras to detect predators more efficiently.<ref>Bertram, Brian CR. "Vigilance and group size in ostriches." Animal Behaviour 28.1 (1980): 278-286.</ref><ref name="Roots 2006"/> If the nest or young are threatened, either or both of the parents may create a distraction, feigning injury.<ref name=Perrins/> However, they may sometimes fiercely fight predators, especially when chicks are being defended, and are capable of killing humans, hyenas, and even lions in such confrontations.<ref name = Stewart2006/><ref name=NationalGeog/><ref>Austin, Oliver Luther. "Birds of the world; a survey of the twenty-seven orders and one hundred and fifty-five families." (1961).</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite journal |last1=Hurxthal |first1=Lewis M. |year=1986 |title=Our gang, ostrich style |journal=Natural History |volume=95 |pages=34–41, 94 |url=https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/master.html?https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/editors_pick/1986_12_pick.html }}</ref> In non-native areas, especially on ostrich farms in North America, adult ostriches have no known enemies due to their large size, intimidating presence and behaviour similar to that of overgrown guard dogs, with instances of them attacking and decapitating [[coyote]]s on one occasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPQi8eIrYQs|title=Ostrich Decapitates Coyote!|author=Longhorn Lester's|website=YouTube|date=13 November 2023 }}</ref> 

Usually, ostrich hunting is done by male cheetah coalitions in the Kalahari region during the night, when ostrich's vigilance is less effective.<ref>Mills, M. G. L., and Margie Mills. Kalahari cheetahs: adaptations to an arid region. Oxford University Press, 2017.</ref> Cheetahs in other regions rarely hunt ostriches, but an exceptional coalition composed of three [[East African cheetah]]s has been reported in Kenya.<ref name = "Sunquist">Sunquist, Mel, and Fiona Sunquist. Wild cats of the world. University of Chicago Press, 2017.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8302000/8302054.stm|title = Epic cheetah hunt filmed in HD|date = 12 October 2009}}</ref> Similarly, lions hunt ostriches mainly in the Kalahari region and not in other regions, or take ostriches as only a small percentage of their prey.<ref name = Sunquist/> Overall, due to their speed, vigilance, and possibly dangerous kick, ostriches are usually avoided by most predators, including lions, leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs.<ref name=Hayward2005>{{Cite journal |last1=Hayward |first1=M. W. |last2=Kerley |first2=G. I. H. |year=2005 |title=Prey preferences of the lion (''Panthera leo'') |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=267 |issue=3 |pages=309–322 |doi=10.1017/S0952836905007508 |url=http://www.zbs.bialowieza.pl/g2/pdf/1595.pdf |citeseerx=10.1.1.611.8271 }}</ref><ref name=Hayward2006>{{cite journal |last1=Hayward |first1=M.W. |last2=Henschel |first2=P. |last3=O'Brien |first3=J. |last4=Hofmeyr |first4=M. |last5=Balme |first5=G. |last6=Kerley |first6=G. I. H. |title=Prey preferences of the leopard (''Panthera pardus'') |journal=Journal of Zoology |date=2006 |volume=270 |issue=4 |pages=298–313 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00139.x |url=http://www.ibs.bialowieza.pl/g2/pdf/1596.pdf |access-date=9 August 2021 |archive-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229233750/https://ibs.bialowieza.pl/g2/pdf/1596.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Hayward, M.W., O’Brien, J., Hofmeyer, M. & Kerley, G.I.H.(2006b). Prey preferences of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) (Felidae: Carnivora): morphological limitations or the need to capture rapidly consumable prey before Kleptoparasites arrive? J. Zool. (Lond.) doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00184.x.</ref><ref>Hayward, Matt W., et al. "Prey preferences of the African wild dog Lycaon pictus (Canidae: Carnivora): ecological requirements for conservation." Journal of Mammalogy 87.6 (2006): 1122-1131.</ref> Despite parental care, 90% is typical for chick mortality, most of it caused by predation.<ref name=":5"/>