Down to Earth - Flightless Birds | Full Documentary

#wildlife #birds #ostrich
Flightless birds gave up flying long ago—though their anatomy shows they once had airborne ancestors. Today, some reach over 2 meters in height, weigh 200 kilos, and sprint at 70 km/h.
The largest, the ostrich, roams Africa; emus and cassowaries rule Australia; rheas live in South America; and New Zealand hosts the small takahe, kiwi, and kakapo. In total, about 40 bird species no longer fly, including swimming specialists like penguins.
New Zealand’s birds lost flight because they evolved without land predators—until humans arrived and changed everything. But why ground-bound giants like the ostrich evolved this way remains partly a mystery.