Common Ostrich

Struthio camelus

This flightless giant, standing up to 9 feet tall, roams the African savanna with surprising speed and grace.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Common Ostrich is a striking bird. Males boast black body feathers contrasted by white wing and tail plumes. Their long, bare necks and legs are pinkish-grey, and their heads are relatively small with large, expressive eyes.

Females are slightly smaller and have duller, brown-grey plumage. Juveniles resemble females but have streaked necks and legs. Both sexes have two-toed feet, which is unique among birds.

Size

Length

210cm to 275cm

Wingspan

200cm to 250cm

Weight

63kg to 145kg

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Brown Grey

Beak Colour

Pale Yellow Grey

Leg Colour

Pink Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Pink Grey

Special Accolades

Fastest Running Bird

Fastest running speed of any bird

Record: 70 km/h (43.5 mph)

Largest Bird

Largest and heaviest living bird

Record: Up to 2.75 m (9 ft) tall and weighing up to 156 kg (344 lb)

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Common Ostrich can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Common Ostrich can be found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Common Ostrich is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Common Ostrich can be found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Common Ostriches inhabit open, arid, and semi-arid landscapes across sub-Saharan Africa. They thrive in grasslands, savannas, and the fringes of deserts, where their excellent vision and speed are advantageous.

While primarily found in East and Southern Africa, including countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, small populations also exist in West Africa. They are absent from densely forested areas and true deserts.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical, Arid

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Common Ostrich. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons