Ostrich
The largest and fastest bird on land, native to Africa.
Ostriches are large flightless birds. Two living species are recognised: the common ostrich, native to large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, native to the Horn of Africa. They are the heaviest and largest living birds, with adult common ostriches weighing anywhere between, and laying the largest eggs of any living land animal. With the ability to run at, they are the fastest birds on land. They are farmed worldwide, with significant industries in the Philippines and in Namibia. South Africa produces about 70% of global ostrich products, with the industry largely centered around the town of Oudtshoorn. Ostrich leather is a lucrative commodity, and the large feathers are used as plumes for the decoration of ceremonial headgear. Ostrich eggs and meat have been used by humans for millennia. Ostrich oil is another product that is made using ostrich fat.
- Scientific Name
- Struthio camelus
- Max Height
- Up to 2.7 meters (9 feet)
- Diet Type
- Omnivore
- Locomotion
- Bipedal runner
Lore & Background
Ostriches belong to the genus Struthio in the order Struthioniformes, part of the infra-class Palaeognathae, a diverse group of flightless and weakly-flying birds also known as ratites that includes the cassowaries, emus, rheas, kiwi, tinamous, and the extinct elephant birds and moa. The common ostrich was historically native to the Arabian Peninsula, and ostriches were present across Asia as far east as China and Mongolia during the Late Pleistocene and possibly into the Holocene.
In Their Own Story
Heat waves distorted the cracked earth of the Kalahari as the midday sun climbed higher. A lone male ostrich stood sentinel, his black-and-white plumage stark against the golden savanna. His neck stretched tall, rotating slowly like a periscope scanning for the dark shapes of lions. Suddenly, he froze. With a low, booming call that vibrated in the chests of nearby gazelles, he signaled danger. In an instant, the flock scattered. The male did not run blindly; he waited until the last female and chick were clear, then launched into motion. His powerful legs pumped with rhythmic precision, each stride covering nearly five meters. Dust billowed behind him as he hit top speed, a blur of feathers and muscle outrunning the pursuing predator. He was no longer just a bird; he was a force of nature, proving that on the African plains, you do not need wings to escape death.
Reader's Guide
Ostriches are omnivores although plants make up the majority of their diet. They primarily eat plant foods including leafy greens, roots, grasses, fruit and succulents. They will also eat small animals such as lizards, frogs and mice, as well as insects such as grasshoppers or locusts. Ostriches do not have teeth, and like other birds, swallow sand and pebbles to grind food in their stomachs.
Did You Know?
- Ostriches are the fastest birds on land.
- They lay the largest eggs of any living land animal.
- South Africa produces about 70% of global ostrich products.
- Ostriches swallow sand and pebbles to help grind food in their stomachs.
More in Birds
Elsewhere in the Living Planet universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record