Can Ostriches Swim?

Ostriches are the largest birds on Earth. These gigantic birds, which were flightless some 65 million years ago, now roam the African continent.

Although ostriches are flightless, they are highly mobile and can run for hours at a time in excess of 45 mph. So, we know ostriches can’t fly, but can ostriches swim? !

Ostriches can swim, but this is not a common behavior. However, ostriches are sometimes found cooling off in rivers, ponds, and lakes on unusually hot days. They have also been spotted swimming in the sea off Yzerfontein, South Africa.

There is no doubt that ostriches are land birds, but of course they can swim. With their large, rounded bodies and long periscope-like necks, you could say ostriches are born for swimming! They can easily keep their heads above the water and use their strong legs to propel themselves forward.

Read on to learn more about how and why these giant birds swim!

Ostrich cooling in a puddle

Why can ostriches swim?

Ostriches are land birds that spend most of their lives on dry land. In fact, ostriches live in some of the driest habitats on the African continent, and many do not have daily contact with water.

If ostriches come into contact with water, they will of course swim. Ostriches swim to cool down, relax in the water, and even hide from predators.

When ostriches decide to take a dip in the water, they are most likely to swim in still or calm inland waters, such as lakes and streams.

While these large birds may be buoyant and use their thighs to propel themselves forward, they didn’t evolve to swim. Having said that, ostriches have been spotted swimming in the Atlantic Ocean near Izerfontein, South Africa.

In one incident, a small fishing boat helped drive two female ostriches back to shore from the Atlantic Ocean – they swam a fair distance from shore and are believed to have escaped from a nearby farm.

A pair of ostriches bathes in Namibia, Africa

How do ostriches swim?

Ostriches swim much like water birds such as swans or geese. The difference is that although ostriches have a large and light body, they do not have webbed feet. So while they are able to swim in fairly strong currents, they are still better suited to land!

When swimming, ostriches use their buoyant bodies to stay afloat and their powerful legs to propel themselves. Additionally, their long necks allow them to keep their heads above the water’s surface without any problem.

How fast can an ostrich swim?

Ostriches are super fast on land, sprung at over 43 mph (70 km/h), but how fast can they swim?

Well, these Olympic distance runners are not as proficient in water as they are on land, but they may swim well.

There is no really detailed or convincing data or information on how fast ostriches can swim. However, judging from the two ostriches swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, the swimming skills of ostriches should be pretty good.

Although ostriches don’t swim often, they are not afraid of water at all!

When can baby ostriches swim?

Ostriches can usually begin swimming when they are young, or even as fledglings if necessary (for example, to escape a predator). However, it must be emphasized that ostriches are not water birds and do not possess the same swimming abilities as ducks, geese, swans, etc.

Ostriches are very large, with rounded bodies that can be quite buoyant. Their long legs propel them through the water, while their long necks allow them to keep their heads above the water with no problem.

If there was more water in interior Africa, ostriches might swim more. However, given that they often inhabit arid or semi-arid regions with few large bodies of water, they don’t need swimming to survive. But, of course, there are exceptions, and ostriches have been observed swimming in rivers and lakes across Africa.

These huge birds may be great swimmers when the need arises, but their strong legs still work better on land!

Ostrich family walking in the water

Can an ostrich take a bath?

Ostriches regularly bathe and clean themselves in a dust bath. When taking a dust bath, the ostrich spreads its feathers on the floor, rubbing any small insects or particles off the feathers.

Ostriches clean themselves thoroughly – they even rub their necks and beaks in the dust!

In captivity, ostriches are often observed bathing in dust and water. Ostriches at the Cincinnati Zoo often cool off in a small pool in their enclosure.

Although ostriches are not water birds, they are definitely not afraid of water. These large, lively birds are strong swimmers and can easily keep their heads above the water’s surface thanks to their long necks.

Ostriches take a dust bath in the Kalahari Desert

Do ostriches swim in the sea?

Ostriches do occupy some coastal areas and beaches. Coastal ostrich populations have been observed to cool gradually in shallow tidal waters. Once, a small fishing boat spotted two female ostriches far off the coast.

The boat escorted the two ostriches back to shore, where they hopped onto the sand, dried their feathers, and continued on their merry journey!

The ostriches are thought to have escaped from a nearby farm. While ostriches are rarely observed swimming in the sea, they are clearly strong swimmers!

An ostrich by the sea in Cape Point, South Africa

Are ostriches good swimmers?

Ostriches are terrestrial birds that have not yet evolved to swim. In fact, ostriches have apparently evolved the ability to walk and run, which is what they are good at. For example, an ostrich can run a marathon in less than 45 minutes!

Although best at running, ostriches are also excellent swimmers. Although swimming ostriches are rare, they are said to swim well in fairly strong currents. This makes sense on paper—ostriches are large, lively birds with strong legs and long necks. They may be prone to buoyancy, and their slender necks act like a periscope.

Ostriches typically bathe in water rather than swim. They are often observed relaxing in shallow pools, both in the wild and in captivity. Most ostriches live in the dry regions of Africa and don’t often encounter large bodies of water. If they did, the ostriches might swim more often.