How Fast Can an Ostrich Run? (Everything Explained)

Ostriches are the largest and heaviest birds in the world. These gigantic birds can reach an astonishing 150kg and a height of 2.8m. Ostriches can’t fly – they’re just too big and heavy. To get from point A to point B, ostriches rely on their powerful legs, but their wings also serve a purpose, although they can’t fly.

So, how fast can an ostrich run? How did they become so good at running, given their enormous size and weight?

Ostriches have a sprint speed of about 40 to 45 mph and a step of 5 meters. They have been known to reach speeds of up to 60 mph for short periods of time, making them the fastest two-legged land animals on Earth.

Ostriches also have tremendous stamina and can maintain a speed of 30 mph to 38 mph for about half an hour or more. That means they can run a 26-mile marathon in about 35 to 40 minutes. In contrast, the human marathon record is just over 2 hours.

In addition to world records for size, weight and speed, ostriches have the largest eyes of any bird and can spot large predators like lions and hyenas at a distance of about 2 miles. In fact, at 5cm in diameter, their eyes are bigger than their heads!

Read on to learn more exciting facts about this oversized and rather unique bird.

A common ostrich runs in the desert

Is the ostrich the fastest bird?

There are actually only two species of ostriches in the world; the common ostrich and the Somali ostrich. The common ostrich is the largest, but the Somali ostrich is not far behind.

Both species of ostriches can easily run at speeds in excess of 40 mph and can stride 5 meters in one step. Some ostriches have been measured to reach speeds of around 60 mph over short distances. This makes the ostrich the fastest bird in the world. In fact, they are the fastest land animals on two legs.

How does the ostrich run so fast?

Ostriches have three anatomical features that help facilitate their insane speed and stamina:

• Their huge, springy legs and well-developed thigh muscles
• their perfect center of gravity
• their wings stabilize and guide them as they sprint

Ostriches have huge legs, about 40 cm to 55 cm in length. Because of their large, long, and strong tendons, their legs contain twice as much elastic energy as human legs. The ostrich’s legs are powered by large, well-developed leg muscles that allow the entire length of the leg to swing back and forth at high speed. They also have thick and strong legs – a well-placed kick from an ostrich can kill a lion.

Additionally, ostriches have a large, round and balanced body, which helps them maintain stability despite their great height. Their center of gravity is perfect for running.

Although flightless, ostriches use their large 2-meter-long wings to help maintain balance at high speeds, which is essential to ensure they don’t fall and get injured easily while running.

A pair of ostriches running on the plains of Amboseli, Kenya

Why is the ostrich running fast?

Ostriches are born to run. Their legs are very long with strong and elastic tendons. Ostrich legs are highly evolved for running, and their center of gravity ensures stability even at speeds of about 45 mph – they are among the most capable long-distance runners in the animal kingdom.

Because they are too heavy and unable to fly, ostriches need to evolve strong legs to escape predators and move between territories in search of food, water and nesting grounds. Their speed and stamina, combined with their excellent eyesight and tendency to live in groups of 10 to 12, make ostriches highly resistant to predators.

The incredible running ability of ostriches also allows them to forage for food and other resources in the vast dry African plains and savannahs. Other birds will simply fly from one place to another in search of food, water, nesting sites, etc., but because ostriches are too heavy to fly, they are adapted to running from point A to point B.

How long can an ostrich run?

Ostriches can run long distances without stopping. By maintaining a speed of about 30 mph, an ostrich will run a marathon (26 miles) in about 40 minutes or less.

A male Somali ostrich, walking

How far can an ostrich run in a day?

It is difficult to estimate how far an ostrich can run in a day. While we know ostriches are very capable long-distance runners, few, if any, humans have been able to measure how far an ostrich can really run before reaching its limit.

In theory, if an ostrich could maintain a speed of 30 mph for an hour, it could cover about 180 miles in a 12-hour workday, taking an hour of rest between each hour of running.

Ostriches may not run just for the sake of it, but only when they need to escape danger or find food and water.

Can all ostriches run fast?

There are two types of ostriches, the common ostrich and the Somali ostrich. Both are very fast runners, capable of sprint speeds in excess of 45 mph. Common ostriches are slightly faster.

Can an ostrich outrun a cheetah?

No land animal can outrun a cheetah – the cheetah is the fastest land animal on Earth at speeds of up to 75 mph, much faster than an ostrich even at top speed!

Cheetahs rarely target ostriches — ostriches are so big and strong that they can kill a cheetah with one kick. There are more threatened prey than ostriches!

Cheetah running at full speed

Can an ostrich outrun a lion?

Ostriches can easily outpace lions over long distances, but lions can sprint at very similar speeds to ostriches, although they can only sustain them for short periods of time. If a lion gets close enough, it can certainly catch an ostrich with a well-timed attack.

However, ostriches are far from easy targets for lions or other predators. Given their excellent eyesight as well as their strength, speed and stamina, ostriches are perfectly capable of fending off one or even multiple lions.

Ostriches usually live in groups of 10 to 12 individuals, which makes them more difficult to attack.

Can a man outrun an ostrich?

In any case, humans cannot outrun ostriches. An ostrich runs twice as fast as a normal human. Their top speed was 45 mph, easily beating the human sprint world record of about 27 mph. No one, past or present, can outrun an ostrich – not even for short distances, let alone long distances!

A group of ostriches running together

What if an ostrich chases you?

Ostriches are not overly aggressive unless they need to defend themselves or their young, but will definitely attack when frightened or provoked. They know their size and strength, and aren’t afraid to defend themselves—they do live among many large and dangerous predators, after all.

Typical advice is not to get too close to the ostrich in the first place. Keep a distance of about 100m. If an ostrich approaches you, walk away carefully. If you get too close, protect your head, lie prone, and make yourself smaller. Avoid kicks at all costs.

Can an ostrich kill?

Ostrich legs aren’t just good for running; they’re also powerful weapons. An ostrich kick can kill a full-grown lion. There have been human deaths related to ostrich kicks, but these are rare and usually happen when people provoke wild ostriches.