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Birds
South African ostrich
South African ostrich · Struthio camelus australis
South African ostriches are impressive flightless birds with huge eyes and powerful legs, and you’ll encounter them in the open landscapes of South Africa.
Fact file
- Size
- Up to 2.75 metres tall and around 120 kilograms in weight
- Males and females
- Males with black and white colouring, females grey-brown and slightly smaller
- Sounds
- Deep, low call, sometimes trumpet-like, loud hissing when threatened
- Diet
- Feeds mainly on grasses, leaves and seeds, and occasionally insects
- Offspring
- Several eggs in a communal nest scrape, chicks hatch after about 42 days
How to identify South African ostrich
South African ostriches are among the largest birds on earth and are unmistakable thanks to their long neck, small head and powerful build. The plumage of males is usually a striking black with white wing and tail feathers. Females and juveniles are more muted in grey-brown, which is extremely helpful for camouflage.
At up to 2.75 metres tall with long, muscular legs, South African ostriches appear both elegant and powerful at first glance. Their pinkish-grey bare skin on the neck and legs reinforces their exotic overall impression. Particularly striking are their large, eyelash-fringed eyes, which allow them to spot danger early.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 18 places where you can see South African ostrich
Where South African ostrich live
Namibia
- Etosha Nationalpark
- Brandberg
- Buffalo Core Area
- Bwabwata Nationalpark
- Caprivi-Streifen
- Damaraland
- Dolomite & Olifantsrus
- Erongo Gebirge
- Fish River Canyon
- Halali
- Hoanib
- Kalahari
- Kaokoland
- Kwando Core Area
- Lüderitz
- Mahango Core Area
- Mudumu Nationalpark
- Namib-Naukluft
- Namib-Naukluft Nationalpark
- NamibRand Nature Reserve
- Namutoni
- Nkasa Rupara National Park
- Okaukuejo
- Palmwag
- Rundu
- Skelettküste
- Sossusvlei
- Spitzkoppe
- Swakopmund
- Twyfelfontein
- Walvis Bay
- Waterberg Plateau
Discover South African ostrich on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
