Birds
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
The ostrich is the largest and heaviest bird in the world and cannot fly, but it runs faster than any other two-legged animal. It has enormous eyes, a long neck and powerful two-toed legs.
In short
The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is a species with IUCN conservation status LC (Least concern). It lives in open savanna, grassland and semi-desert across Africa, in groups that often mix with other grazers. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the ostrich live?
It lives in open savanna, grassland and semi-desert across Africa, in groups that often mix with other grazers. Omnivorous, it feeds mainly on plants, and lays the largest eggs of any living bird.
Is the ostrich endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates the common ostrich Least Concern (LC), though with a decreasing population. Some subspecies are far more threatened. Hunting, egg collection and habitat loss all take a toll.
Facts about the ostrich
- It is the largest and heaviest bird in the world and cannot fly.
- It runs at up to about 70 km/h, faster than any other biped.
- It lays the largest eggs of any living bird.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Struthio camelus (Least Concern) · BirdLife International
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.