The common ostrich (or Struthio camelus) is the largest known bird species in the world. Males have black body feathers and white feathers on their wing-tips and tails, while females have grey-brown body feathers. On both sexes, the head, neck and legs are pink to white in colour, and there is some variation in appearance depending on the bird’s original location in Africa. The males have an average height of 2.1 to 2.8m, whereas females are smaller, measuring between 1.7 and 2.0m.
Latin Name
Struthio camelus
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common-ostrich
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Animal Facts
The ostrich is the largest living species of bird, they are also the fastest on the ground; they can run for long distances at 34mph and sprint at 43mph.
Ostriches have the largest eggs in the world, but the smallest eggs of any bird relative to body size.
When incubating a nest, the alpha female sits on the nest during the day, her grey-brown feathers blending with the dusty ground, and the alpha male sits on the nest at night, with his black feathers difficult to see in the dark.
Ostrich males raise the ostrich chicks when they hatch.
Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. To hide from predators, they lie flat against the ground and their body blends with the horizon and the dust.