Ostrich
Hi! I’m an Ostrich
The Ostrich is the largest bird in the world. Using its long legs, powerful thighs and strong feet, an ostrich can cover five metres in a single stride and reach speeds of over 70 km an hour! In addition, if an ostrich is cornered by a predator it will kick with the power to kill.
Ostrich lay the biggest eggs of any bird, equal to two dozen or more chicken eggs. The biggest ostrich egg ever weighed was over 2.5kg.
The National Zoo & Aquarium is home to 3 ostrich: Ivy, Clover, and Shadow.
Ostrich Facts
Taxonomy
Struthio camelus
Population Movement
Decreasing
Current Animals
Shadow, Clover, Ivy
Life Span (captive)
Up to 70
Weight
90-136kg
Reproduction
Ostriches are polygamous, meaning one dominant male will mate with one or more females within his territory. Ostrich nests are communal; several ostriches lay their eggs in the same nest. Then, one male and one female take turns incubating the eggs. Each female lays between seven and 10 eggs at a time, so nests may contain up to 50 eggs.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Group Count
3
Life Span (wild)
30-40
Size
2.7m
Gestation
35-45 days
Distribution
Grasslands, savannah, and shrublands of southern and eastern Africa.