Common Ostrich

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Struthio camelus

As the biggest bird on the planet, and the fastest creature on two legs, ostriches are familiar to most people. Males stand up to 2.8m tall and weigh up to 160kg, females are usually a lot lighter in build.

Ostrich close-up
Ostrich female
Ostrich male
Ostrich
Ostrich Male
Ostrich male
Female Ostrich
Ostrich
Ostrich

Ostriches occur in open habitats, and are commonly found in open grasslands, arid savannas, semi-deserts and even true deserts, where they are superbly adapted to cope with the hot and dry conditions. They feed mostly on plant material such as seeds, fruits, leaves, grass and flowers, but will also gobble up any invertebrates and small mammals and reptiles it comes across. They’ll swallow stones to assist in breaking down tough plant material in their gizzards. Ostriches do not need to drink water regularly, but when it is available they will drink readily and will even bathe to cool off.

Ostrich female
Ostrich at home in Bontle, Marakele NP
Ostrich male swallowing something large
Ostrich male
Common Ostrich in northern Kruger
Ostrich male among mopane trees
Ostrich near Tinhongonyeni, Kruger Park
Ostriches in the hills of Mountain Zebra National Park
Ostrich couple in the Karoo
Ostrich male searching for a bite
Ostrich couple
Grazing ostrich
Ostrich male
Ostrich at Bollonoto
Common Ostrich Pair
Ostrich male
Ostrich male
Ostrich female

Ostriches are usually to be found in pairs or small flocks, though larger groups of up to 100 are not uncommon. They also often associate with herds of plains zebra and antelope, who also benefits from the ostriches’ exceptional eyesight. Ostriches are extremely capable runners, covering 3 to 5m in a single stride and reaching speeds of up to 80km/h – they can run the 100m in 5 seconds! Even a month-old chick can outrun a lion. They also have exceptional stamina and can run for half an hour at a speed of 50km/h. Their two-toed kick is legendary and armed by a long claw can easily kill a predator or human through disemboweling when they feel threatened or are protecting their offspring. These flightless birds are diurnal, and most active in the early morning and late afternoon. Like many other birds, ostriches are very fond of a regular dust bath.

Male Ostrich on the run
Female Ostrich on the run
Ostrich female being blown all over the place by the strong wind
Female ostrich
Ostrich at home in Bontle, Marakele NP
Ostrich at home in Bontle, Marakele NP
Ostrich at home in Bontle, Marakele NP
Ostrich female setting off
Ostriches love dustbaths
Ostriches love dustbaths
Ostrich foot
Flock of ostrich on the move
Ostrich
Ostrich and Pied Crows
Ostrich
Ostrich
Ostriches
Ostriches
Female ostrich striding through Bontle camp (photo by Joubert)
Ostrich Chick
Ostrich Chick

Males utter an impressive booming “roar”, mostly at night during the breeding season, and not unlike that of a lion. Males are polygamous, and perform an elaborate dance for their females before mating. Several females will lay their eggs in the same shallowly scraped nest on the ground – eventually there may be up to 40 eggs in the nest. It is well known that ostrich eggs are huge – weighing as much as 1.4kg, one ostrich egg is equivalent to about 20 chicken eggs. Within each flock there is one dominant hen, and her eggs will be laid in the middle of the nest where they are most assured to be incubated, while “minor” hens’ eggs are pushed to the side – eventually only up to about 20 (usually 12 – 16) of the eggs in the nest will be successfully incubated. The differently coloured plumage assists in camouflaging them while incubating, as females mostly incubate the eggs by day, and the males by night. While on the nest, ostriches will often lie with their necks outstretched on the ground so that their characteristic outline does not attract unwanted attention on the open plains they inhabit (but they don’t bury their heads in the sand as is often thought). Eggs hatch after 40 – 48 days and the hatchlings are looked after by both parents. The cryptic colouration and markings of the young chicks are excellent camouflage. Hyenas actively search out ostrich nests to eat the eggs, and almost all Africa’s predatory mammals and larger birds of prey will go after chicks. Adults fall prey to lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, cheetahs and wild dogs. Though only about 15% of hatchlings survive to 1 year of age, ostriches can live up to 40 years in the wild, and even longer in domesticated situations.

Ostrich flock, Kruger Park (H1-4)
Ostrich male in breeding condition
Ostrich mating display
Ostrich mating display
Ostrich mating display
The mating display was successful…
Ostrich female on a nest
Ostrich chicks
Ostrich chicks
Ostrich siblings
Ostrich chicks
Ostrich chicks
Father and son time at Nylsvley
Ostrich family
Ostrich family
Ostrich juvenile
Ostriches mating at Mountain Zebra National Park
Ostriches mating at Mountain Zebra National Park
Ostriches mating at Mountain Zebra National Park
Ostriches mating at Mountain Zebra National Park
Ostrich family
Ostrich family
Ostrich male with his chicks
Ostrich male with his chicks
Ostrich male on the run
Ostrich male
Ostrich male
Ostrich female
Abandoned ostrich egg
Ostrich nest

Ostriches can be found across most of South Africa, in both state and private conservation areas, although the majority of these populations stem from hybrids bred for the feather trade and only a few flocks, such as those in the Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, are truly wild. Ostriches are also farmed in large numbers for their feathers, leather and lean meat and some of these farms, notably around the town of Oudtshoorn, have become tourist attractions in their own right. Despite the fact that ostrich populations are declining due mostly to loss of habitat, the IUCN considers the species of least concern at the moment.

Male ostrich
Ostrich family
Ostrich
Ostrich close-up
Ostrich close-up
Male Ostrich (photo by Joubert)
Ostrich male
Ostrich
Male ostrich
Mating ostriches
Very satisfied male ostrich (photo by Joubert)
Female Ostrich
Ostrich (photo by Joubert)
Male ostrich eyeing us from above
Male ostrich
Ostrich female
Ostrich pair
Ostriches
Ostrich female
Ostrich pair
Ostrich pair
Ostrich pair
Ostrich male
Male Ostriches
Male Ostrich
Ostrich female
Ostrich female with chicks
Ostrich face
Ostriches

ostrich-20

 

44 thoughts on “Common Ostrich”

  4. Kameel

    Baie dankie vir hierdie interessante inligting. Het seker nie die dag in Oudshoorn mooi opgelet nie. ‘n Volstruiseier het ons darem eenkeer op ‘n afgeleë plek gehelp om leë mae te voed 😊

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  5. Joanne Sisco

    I’ve always been a bit nervous around ostriches – I’ve encountered them in farms and zoos. When I got to the disembowelling part, I felt justified. I had no idea. I always thought it was their head/beak combined with the strength of their neck that could do the most damage.
    The bottom line is, this is a bird that deserves respect!

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. anotherday2paradise

    They are such amazing looking birds. I remember first seeing them at Oudtshoorn shortly after we emigrated to SA. The guide let us stand on an egg to prove how strong the shell is. A couple of brave people had a go at riding one, but not very successfully. 🙂 Great post, Dries!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. ashu@ashstylegourmet

    HI, As always awesome pictures, loved the last one. Had seen a wildlife movie in which the Ostrich is seen running, fastest running bird, and since then always been fascinated by this beautiful bird. Nice informative post, Thanks.
    They are seen in the Al Ain zoo here in the UAE.
    ashu

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you, Ashu!

      In researching this issue I learned that there was actually an indigenous subspecies of the ostrich that occurred on the Arabian Peninsula, but was hunted to extinction. Such a pity that, because of humans, they can now only be seen in zoos in the UAE where they once roamed free!

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