The largest and heaviest bird in the world.

Whilst ostriches are flightless birds and can no longer take to the air, they can run extremely fast.

The ostrich in a nutshell

eats
seeds, flowers, insects, small vertebrates
inhabits
Central and South Africa
excels at
running

On the menu

The ostrich is a herbivore, but occasionally eats the remains of animal carcasses left behind by predators. Other than this, it is quite a picky eater, consuming only the seeds and heads of certain crops, flowers, and sometimes insects and small vertebrates. Ostriches can go for long periods without water.

The status of this species on the IUCN Red List is least Concern.

  • least Concern
  • near threatened
  • vulnerable
  • endangered
  • critically Endangered
  • extinct in the Wild

A bird of extremes

The ostrich is a bird with a number of extreme characteristics. For example, it is the largest and heaviest of all birds, and is also the fastest biped in the world, reaching speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour. The ostrich also produces the largest eggs in the animal kingdom.

Incubating eggs

Ostriches live in groups. The females lay their eggs in a communal nest which is a simple, shallow pit. All eggs are hatched simultaneously by the dominant female. Ostrich eggs are about fifteen centimetres long, thirteen centimetres wide and weigh an average of 1,500 grams. The shell is extremely strong and will not break under the weight of an adult human male.

ostrich with egg

Head in the sand

The idea that ostriches stick their heads in the sand is a myth that probably arises from their survival tactic. To avoid being spotted by a predator, ostriches lie down with their heads and necks flat on the ground. From a distance, they then resemble nothing more than a pile of earth.

The ostrich has been adopted by Brouwerij 't IJ.