Ostrich
The ostrich is the largest bird alive today, native to the open savannas and arid plains of Africa. Adults can stand up to 2.8 metres tall and weigh as much as 145 kilograms. Though unable to fly, they are anything but defenceless: they can run at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour and sustain a pace of around 50 kilometres per hour over long distances, making them the fastest birds on land. Their legs are powerful enough to deliver a kick capable of killing a lion. Ostriches live in loose groups and feed on grasses, seeds, leaves, and the occasional small animal or insect. Females produce the largest eggs of any bird on Earth, each weighing around 1.4 kilograms. A dominant male and a main female share incubation duties, though several females may lay in the same nest.
Habitat and distribution
Ostriches are birds of open spaces. They thrive across the savannas, semi-arid plains, and scrublands that stretch through much of sub-Saharan Africa, and a small wild population also persists in parts of North Africa. They avoid dense woodland and areas of heavy rainfall, preferring terrain where their sharp eyesight gives them advance warning of approaching predators. In the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, they manage to survive in conditions that are extremely dry, finding enough food and water in sparse vegetation. Their range once extended into the Arabian Peninsula and parts of the Middle East, but those populations are now gone. Today, the largest numbers are found in eastern and southern Africa, particularly across Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Namibia, and South Africa.
Diet
Although plant matter makes up the bulk of an ostrich's diet, these birds are quite flexible in what they eat. Grasses, seeds, roots, leaves, and flowers are their staples, and they forage steadily throughout the day across large areas of ground. When the opportunity arises, they will also take insects, small lizards, and other tiny animals to supplement their intake of protein. Ostriches have no teeth, so they swallow small stones and grit that sit in the gizzard and help grind down tough plant material. An adult can consume several kilograms of vegetation per day. Remarkably, they can go without drinking water for extended periods by extracting moisture directly from the plants they eat, an ability that makes life possible in some of Africa's driest environments.
Behavior
Social and alert, ostriches typically move around in loose groups of five to fifty individuals, though larger gatherings can form on open plains. Their eyesight is extraordinary: they have the largest eyes of any land animal, and they can spot a lion or other predator from several kilometres away. When danger closes in, the first response is to run. At full speed, an ostrich can cover ground faster than any other bird on the planet and outpace nearly every predator in its environment. If cornered, it delivers powerful forward kicks using its two toed feet, capable of causing serious injury. Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. When they lower their heads to the ground, they are usually turning their eggs or feeding.
Reproduction
Breeding season varies by region, but the nesting process follows a consistent pattern. A dominant male establishes a territory and mates with a main female, known as the major hen, though several other females, called minor hens, may also lay their eggs in the same nest. The result is a communal clutch that can hold up to sixty eggs. The major hen and the dominant male take turns incubating them, with the female covering the nest during the day and the male taking over at night. Each egg weighs around 1.4 kilograms, making them the largest eggs produced by any living bird. After roughly forty to forty-five days, the chicks hatch. They grow quickly and can run within days of hatching. Both parents actively guard the chicks against predators.
Conservation
The IUCN lists the ostrich as Least Concern, reflecting the fact that its overall population remains relatively stable across most of its range. That said, the picture is not entirely positive. Numbers have declined noticeably in parts of West Africa and the Sahel, where poaching and the steady loss of habitat to agriculture and human settlement continue to put pressure on local populations. Ostriches have also been hunted for their feathers, meat, and eggs for centuries, and that pressure has not fully disappeared. In southern Africa, large populations are maintained on game farms and reserves, which helps offset losses elsewhere. The North African subspecies, Struthio camelus camelus, has disappeared from much of its former range and is considered more vulnerable than the species as a whole.
Technical factsheet
Where it is found
The Ostrich can be found in places such as:
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can an ostrich run?
Ostriches are the fastest birds on land. They can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour in short bursts and keep a pace of around 50 kilometres per hour over long distances. That combination of top speed and endurance means they can outrun almost every predator in their environment, making their legs their most effective tool for survival.
What do ostriches eat?
Ostriches eat mostly plant material: grasses, seeds, roots, leaves, and flowers. They also snack on insects, small lizards, and other tiny animals when they get the chance. Since they have no teeth, they swallow small stones to help grind food in their gizzard. Adults can get through several kilograms of vegetation in a single day while foraging across open ground.
Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?
No, this is a myth. Ostriches never bury their heads in the sand. When they lower their heads close to the ground, they are either turning their eggs or feeding on low-growing plants. Their real response to danger is to run, and if they cannot escape, they will kick with enough force to seriously injure a predator.
Where do ostriches live in the wild?
Wild ostriches are found across much of Africa, mainly in the open savannas, semi-arid plains, and scrublands of sub-Saharan Africa. The largest populations are in eastern and southern Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Namibia, and South Africa. They prefer wide, open terrain where they can spot predators from a distance, and they avoid dense forest and areas with heavy rainfall.
How big are ostrich eggs?
Ostrich eggs are the largest of any bird alive today. Each one weighs around 1.4 kilograms, which is roughly equivalent to two dozen chicken eggs. Despite being enormous compared to the eggs of other birds, they are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the animal that lays them. The shell is thick enough to support the weight of an adult human.
Are ostriches dangerous to humans?
Ostriches can be genuinely dangerous. Their legs are built for power, and a single forward kick from one of their two-toed feet can kill a lion. Around humans, they are usually calm, but they become aggressive when they feel threatened or are protecting a nest. Most serious injuries happen on farms or in wildlife areas where people get too close. It is best to keep a safe distance from them.
Is the ostrich endangered?
The ostrich is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, meaning the species as a whole is not at immediate risk. However, populations in parts of West Africa and the Sahel have dropped noticeably due to poaching and habitat loss. The North African subspecies has disappeared from much of its former range and is in a more fragile position than the wider species, which remains relatively stable across eastern and southern Africa.