What is the distribution range of the ostrich?
What is the habitat of ostriches?
How rare is it to see an ostrich?
Do ostriches stay in one place all year round?
Where do ostriches live in Africa?
Where do ostriches live in Australia?
Where are ostriches most common?
Where is the best place to see ostriches?
Ostriches are probably the most famous species of the flightless group known as ratites. You probably know these superlative birds as the tallest and heaviest birds in the world. You might even know they’re the fastest bird, but did you know where ostriches live?
Ostriches are endemic to Africa, which means they live anywhere else in the world (except where they were introduced). They are widespread, extending from the southern tip to the edge of the Sahara Desert in the northern part of this vast continent. Ostriches live in dry, open habitats such as semi-deserts, open savannahs, and low scrubland.
These flightless birds do not depend on daily drinking water, but their inability to fly also limits their movement, especially where large rivers, mountains and fences arise. However, ostriches can be highly nomadic, traveling long distances in search of good feeding grounds.
There are two recognized species of ostriches, both endemic to Africa. A subspecies existed in the Arabian Peninsula of Asia until the 1960s, although they are now extinct there.
This article describes the distribution and habitat of the African ostrich. Read on to find out where these giant birds live and where you might see them.
Native to Africa only, ostriches prefer open, dry habitats
What is the distribution range of the ostrich?
Ostriches are native to Africa. These huge flightless birds have a wide range, from the southern African coastline in Cape Town, South Africa, to sub-Saharan North Africa. However, there are major breaks in their distribution, as ostriches do not occur in the densely vegetated countries of Central and West Africa.
Common Ostrich (ostrich) is the more widespread of the two known species. It has been divided into four subspecies, each with a different range. Read on to learn about wild ostrich habitats:
South African ostrich (Antarctica, South Carolina) distribute
The South African ostrich is characterized by a gray neck without a white ring of feathers around the neck. This southern subspecies of the common ostrich occurs in the following countries:
- South Africa
- Lesotho
- swaziland
- Namibia
- Botswana
- Zimbabwe
- mozambique
- Angola
- zambia
Male and female South African ostriches or Cape ostriches in Cape Point, South Africa
Masai/East African Ostrich (South Carolina Massage Therapists) distribute
The Masai ostrich has pink legs and a pink neck with a prominent white ring. This East African subspecies occurs in the following countries:
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Tanzania
North African ostrich (camels south carolina) distribute
The critically endangered northern subspecies has a very wide distribution but has been hunted to extinction over most of its range. These birds look similar to the Masai ostrich, but with a wider neckband and no feathers on the head. This subspecies occurs in the following countries:
- Tunisia
- morocco
- central african republic
- Cameroon
- chad
- Senegal
masai ostrich
north african ostrich
Arabian ostrich (Syria, South Carolina) distribute
The historical distribution of this extinct subspecies includes several countries in the Arabian Peninsula.
Somali ostrich (molybdenum bird)
The Somali ostrich is considered a complete species. They are distinguished from the Masai and North African ostriches by their dark gray neck and legs. These vulnerable birds are found in the following countries in the northeastern part of the African continent:
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Somalia
- Kenya
What is the habitat of ostriches?
Ostriches are open habitat birds. These birds are perfectly adapted to very dry environments and do not depend on daily drinking water to survive. They prefer grasslands, open savannas, low scrub and deserts.
They generally avoid tall, dense vegetation because these areas lack their usual food and are at a higher risk of being ambushed by predators. Open habitats also make it easier for ostriches to protect their eggs and babies from smaller predators.
Typical ostrich desert habitat
How rare is it to see an ostrich?
Ostriches are very common in suitable habitats in protected areas. They are the largest birds in the world, and their dark plumage stands out in open habitats, making them an easy bird to spot.
They are also common domesticated animals and are widely farmed in some areas for their meat, eggs, feathers and hides.
Outside of game reserves, wild ostriches have become very rare. Their populations have become highly fragmented, and the northern subspecies of the common ostrich is now listed as critically endangered.
Fortunately, various sanctuaries and protected areas already have reintroduction programs in place.
Do ostriches stay in one place all year round?
Ostriches will remain in suitable habitat in the same area year-round. However, these large dinosaur-like birds can be nomadic, especially in areas with limited resources or affected by drought. Ostriches are flightless birds, so their movements are limited by geographical features such as mighty rivers, dense vegetation and mountains, and artificial boundaries such as fences.
A male ostrich in Beaufort West, Western Cape, South Africa
Where do ostriches live in Africa?
Ostriches are widely distributed on the African continent. They live in areas with suitable open habitats and dry climates. These birds are mainly found in southern, eastern and northern Africa. Ostriches avoid much of Central and West Africa because of the dense woodlands and forests there. Nor did they occur in the Sahara Desert, which covers most of North Africa.
Where do ostriches live in Australia?
Ostriches are native to Australia, but are bred in certain areas. The number of escaped or released birds is indeed low in the South Australian outback. However, these wild birds do not reproduce well and are not expected to survive.
Common ostrich foraging in Namibia, South Africa
Where are ostriches most common?
Ostriches are most commonly found on open plains and relatively flat areas dominated by low vegetation such as grasses and low shrubs. They have been wiped out from much of their original range by hunters and farmers, although they still occur in larger wilderness areas and are protected in many protected areas across the continent.
Three ostriches on the open plains of Etosha National Park, Namibia
Where is the best place to see ostriches?
The best place to see free-roaming wild ostriches is in one of the continent’s many large nature reserves or national parks. They can be found in the most suitable protected areas that contain the dry, open habitats these birds prefer.
Visit the following sanctuaries to see wild ostriches in their natural habitat:
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa/Botswana
- Etosha National Park, Namibia
- Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
- Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
South Africa’s Oudtshoorn region is a center for ostrich farming and tourism, but you don’t have to travel across the world to see these incredible birds.
Closer to home, ostriches can be found in many zoos across the United States. They even have pastures in some parts of the United States, although they have lost popularity over the past few decades.
Common ostrich on the sand dunes of the arid Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park across South Africa and Botswana
Expert Q&A
ask a question
Do you have a question on this topic that we haven’t answered yet? Submit below and one of our experts will reply as soon as possible.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.