“Burying your head in the sand” is an idiom that means to avoid or ignore a difficult situation. (Image credit: Martin Harvey/Getty Images)
For centuries, ostriches (Struthio species) have been thought to bury their heads in the sand when threatened. This vivid image has given rise to the popular idiom “burying one's head in the sand,” which is used to describe situations where someone refuses to face their own problems.
This belief about ostriches was probably first expressed by the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, also known as Gaius Plinius Secundus, who compiled one of the first encyclopedic collections, according to ABC science. In Book 10 of his Natural History, he talks about an ostrich that hides its head in the bushes to become invisible.
“These birds have a wonderful ability to digest everything in their path, but their stupidity is no less noticeable; although their body is considerably large, they believe that if they stick their head and neck into the bushes, they are completely hidden,” he wrote in one translation.
But do ostriches really hide their heads? No, they don't, although sometimes it may seem like they are burying themselves.
Ostriches are the largest birds on the planet, yet their heads are relatively small compared to their size.
These birds are native to Africa and are found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, savannas, and deserts. They are the largest birds in the world, weighing up to 287 pounds (130 kilograms) and reaching heights of up to 9 feet (2.7 meters), according to the San Diego Zoo. However, their heads are small, and they have several behavioral traits that can make it appear from a distance that they are hiding their heads.
Unlike nesting birds, ostriches dig shallow holes in the sand or soil to lay their eggs. Both parents turn the eggs regularly several times a day to keep them warm. From a distance, this may appear as if they are hiding their heads.
Sourse: www.livescience.com
