Hands Down Animals · Printable fact sheet
Ostrich
Struthio
Quick facts
| Scientific name | Struthio |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.8 to 2.75 meters tall |
| Weight | 90 to 156 kilograms |
| Lifespan | Average 30 years in wild, up to 45 in captivity |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous: grasses, seeds, leaves, flowers, fruits; occasionally insects, lizards, or small… |
| Habitat | Savanna, Open grassland, Semi-desert |
| Where it lives | East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, Horn of Africa |
| IUCN status | Least Concern (overall) |
| Population | 150,000 - 250,000 |
| Top speed | 70 km/h |
| Family | Struthionidae |
About the ostrich
The ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird, standing up to 2.7 metres and weighing over 100 kilograms, and it roams the savannas and semi-deserts of Africa. It cannot fly, but its long two-toed legs carry it at around 70 km/h in bursts, faster than any other bird on land, and it lays the largest egg of any living bird, at about 1.4 kilograms. The common ostrich is Least Concern; the Somali ostrich of the Horn of Africa is listed as Vulnerable.
Five things to know
- Ostriches are the largest living birds on Earth, reaching up to 2.75 meters in height.
- They can run at speeds up to 70 km/h (43 mph), making them the fastest birds on land.
- Unlike most birds, ostriches cannot fly but have powerful legs for running and defense.
- Ostrich eggs are the largest of any living land animal—up to 15 cm in length and weighing over 1.4 kg.
- Males have striking black-and-white plumage, while females are brown and more camouflaged.
Homeschool unit: Birds homeschool guide — Flight, feathers and migration: a bird unit that uses species like the ostrich as its worked examples.