# Ostrich (*Struthio camelus*) > The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is the largest and heaviest living bird, a flightless native of Africa's savannas, semi-deserts, and open plains. Adults stand up to about 2.8 m tall and weigh 63 to 130 kg, yet they are the fastest bird on land, sprinting at 70 km/h. Mostly plant-eating omnivores, wild ostriches live 40 to 45 years and are listed as Least Concern. - **Category:** Bird - **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern - **Range:** The savannas, semi-deserts, and open plains of sub-Saharan Africa. - **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/ostrich/ - **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16 ## Scientific classification - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Struthioniformes - **Family:** Struthionidae - **Genus:** Struthio ## Facts at a glance | Attribute | Value | | --- | --- | | Scientific name | Struthio camelus | | Diet | Omnivore (mostly plants) | | Habitat | Savanna, semi-desert, open plains | | Lifespan | 40–45 years in the wild | | Weight | 63–130 kg (140–290 lb) | | Top speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) on foot | | Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) | ## Built for running, not flying The ostrich long ago traded flight for speed on the ground. Its two-toed feet, unique among birds, act like sprinter's spikes and let it reach 70 km/h (43 mph), the fastest running speed of any bird. Powerful legs also deliver a forward kick strong enough to injure a lion or a person. Its stubby wings are useless for flight but work as rudders and stabilisers, helping it change direction sharply at full pace. ## Size and appearance Standing up to 2.8 m tall and weighing between 63 and 130 kg, the ostrich dwarfs every other living bird. Males are boldly marked in black and white, while females and young are a muted grey-brown that blends into dry grassland. The long bare neck and enormous eyes, each larger than the brain, give the bird sweeping vision across open country. Those eyes are among the largest of any land vertebrate. ## Diet and feeding Ostriches are omnivores that feed mainly on plants, favouring seeds, shoots, leaves, flowers, and roots. They also take insects, small reptiles, and other invertebrates when available. Lacking teeth, an ostrich swallows pebbles and grit that collect in its gizzard to grind tough plant matter. It can go for long periods without drinking, taking most of its water from the vegetation it eats. ## Breeding and eggs Ostriches lay the largest eggs of any living bird, each weighing around 1.5 kg, though they are among the smallest eggs relative to the size of the parent. A dominant female and a male share a communal nest, a simple scrape in the ground, where several females may lay. The pair take turns incubating: the drab female sits by day and the black male by night, each camouflaged for the light. Chicks hatch after about six weeks and can run with the adults within days. ## Social life and behaviour Outside the breeding season ostriches gather in loose flocks, often mixing with grazing zebra and antelope that benefit from the bird's sharp eyesight and early alarm. When threatened, an ostrich usually runs rather than fights, though a cornered bird will lash out with its legs. The old belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand is a myth; the impression comes from birds lowering their heads to the ground to turn eggs or feed. They rest with their necks flat to the earth, which from a distance can look like a buried head. ## Conservation and human use The ostrich is classed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with wild populations across sub-Saharan Africa and large numbers kept on farms worldwide. Domesticated ostriches are raised for their meat, leather, and decorative feathers, an industry that dates back more than a century. Wild numbers have contracted in parts of their former range through hunting and habitat loss, and one subspecies, the North African ostrich, has become rare. Overall the species remains widespread and secure. ## Frequently asked questions ### How fast can an ostrich run? An ostrich can run at up to 70 km/h (43 mph), making it the fastest bird on land. It can also maintain around 50 km/h over longer distances, and each stride can cover several metres. ### How big is an ostrich? Ostriches stand up to about 2.8 m tall and weigh between 63 and 130 kg. This makes them the largest and heaviest living birds by a wide margin. ### Can ostriches fly? No. Ostriches are flightless birds with small wings unsuited to flight. Instead they escape danger by running at high speed and use their wings for balance and steering. ### What do ostriches eat? Ostriches are omnivores that eat mostly plants, including seeds, shoots, leaves, and roots, along with the occasional insect or small reptile. They swallow pebbles to help grind food in the gizzard, as they have no teeth. ### Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand? No, that is a myth. Ostriches lower their heads to the ground to turn their eggs or feed, and they may lie flat to avoid being seen, which can look like burying the head from a distance. ### How long do ostriches live? Wild ostriches typically live 40 to 45 years. On farms and in captivity they can reach a similar age with good care. ## Sources - BirdLife International (2018). Struthio camelus. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. - Billerman, S. M. et al. (eds.). Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. - [Animal Diversity Web — Struthio camelus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Struthio_camelus/) --- Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/ostrich/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.