Ostrich
- Anne Longman
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 17
Week of 03.24.25
Introducing the largest and heaviest bird on Earth, the ostrich! On average, a male ostrich stands 9 feet tall, and a female 6 feet tall. Both have round, black bodies with extremely long necks that end in a tiny head. Other defining features include long, bare legs, large black eyes, and two toed feet. When sorted by anatomy, the ostrich belongs to a group of birds called ratites. This is a name given to flightless birds that do not have keels, the center point where bird wings join to provide in-flight balance. Not all birds in this group share genetic ancestors and instead are grouped together by this uncommon trait. Other ratites include emus, cassowaries, and kiwis.
Ostriches can reach a top end speed of around 40 miles per hour, allowing them to easily outrun most predators. They can maintain a pace of around 30 miles per hour for extended periods of time. If threatened, they can also deliver a swift, damaging kick with their large legs. Unfortunately for the ostrich, their land speed is second only to the cheetah. The two are neighbors in the grasslands of Africa, and often get into intense foot races. Watch a riveting chase between predator and prey below!
Everything about an ostrich is large - their legs, their wings, and even their eggs. An ostrich egg is about seven inches long and weighs between three and five pounds. These are the largest eggs of any living bird, beaten only be the extinct elephant bird.
Did you know: it would take about 90 minutes to successfully hard boil an ostrich egg?
The anatomy of an ostrich may seem funny now, with their long limbs and flightless wings, but this was a common set of features among prehistoric birds. Many ratites were driven to extinction by human arrival in their habitats. 9 species of ratite lived on New Zealand, all hunted to extinction by settlers. The aforementioned elephant bird was driven out of existence by the human population in Madagascar, and were believed to be run out of existence by the 17th century. Today, the ostrich population remains strong and serves as a reminder of species past.
A reminder that you can always submit a bird request on the suggest a bird page! There have been lots of great ideas lately, and I am working my way through the list.
Have a great week!
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Sources:
Art by Anne Longman
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