Bird · GBIF taxon 2495150
Common Ostrich
Struthio camelusAlso known as Ostrich, African Ostrich
Common ostriches are the world's largest birds, built for high-speed running across open African savannas and semi-arid plains. Males display striking black-and-white plumage while females blend into the landscape with earth-toned grey-brown feathers. Nomadic flocks travel continuously in search of vegetation, seeds, and occasional insects while relying on keen eyesight to spot predators from kilometers away.
FlightlessSavannaLarge Bird
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Seeds
- Grasses
- Insects
Predators
- Lions
- Leopards
- Cheetahs
ThreatsHabitat loss, hunting, egg harvesting, and agricultural fencing
HabitatsSavannas, open woodlands, semi-arid plains, and deserts
Life span30–40 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderStruthioniformes
- FamilyStruthionidae
- GenusStruthio
- SpeciesStruthio camelus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Powerful forward kicks can deliver lethal strikes; maintain a safe distance at all times.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with two-toed feet featuring sharp, heavy claws capable of delivering lethal forward kicks.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for huge body size, bare neck and legs, and distinct black or brown plumage.
- What to do
- Do not approach on foot or enter enclosures; stay inside a vehicle or behind heavy barrier fences.
Responsible observation
- Keep distance: Never approach on foot, especially near nests or chicks, as protective males charge fiercely.
- Observe from vehicles: Safari vehicles provide safe viewpoints without disturbing natural foraging behavior.
- Watch body language: Raised feathers, hissing, and forward pacing indicate agitation and imminent aggression.
Predator "African Lion" by Mathias Appel is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/. · cc0
Close Relative (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist · cc-by
Ratite Relative (c) patrickkavanagh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Ratite Relative (c) Romi Galeota Lencina, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Romi Galeota Lencina · cc-by
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