How Fast Can An Ostrich Run?

The ostrich is the world’s biggest and heaviest bird. These monstrous birds may weigh up to 150 kilogrammes and stand up to 2.8 metres tall. Ostriches are unable to fly due to their enormous size and weight.

Ostriches rely on their strong legs to go from point A to point B, but their wings, despite their lack of flying, serve a role as well. So, how fast can an ostrich run, and how did they manage to do so despite their massive size and weight?

Ostriches can run at speeds of 40 to 45 miles per hour and cover a massive 5 metres in a single step. They have been reported to reach speeds of 60 mph in brief spurts, making them the world’s fastest two-legged terrestrial mammal.

Ostriches have incredible stamina and can run at rates of 30 to 38 miles per hour for up to half an hour. This implies they can complete a 26-mile marathon in around 35 to 40 minutes.

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The human marathon record stands at slightly over 2 hours. Ostriches have the biggest vision of any bird and can spot huge predators like lions and hyenas at distances of up to 2 miles, in addition to their world-record size, weight, and speed.

Their eyes, with a circumference of 5cm, are much larger than their brains! Continue reading to learn more fascinating facts about this colossal and one-of-a-kind bird.

Is an Ostrich the Fastest Running Bird?

The Common ostrich and the Somali ostrich are the only two species of ostrich in the world. The largest is the common ostrich, although Somali ostriches aren’t far behind.

Both species of ostrich can run at speeds of up to 40 mph and cover 5 metres in a single step. Ostriches have been known to achieve speeds of up to 60 miles per hour over short distances.

This easily qualifies the ostrich as the world’s fastest running bird. In fact, they are the quickest two-legged terrestrial mammals.

How do Ostriches Run So Fast?

Ostriches have three anatomical characteristics that aid in their incredible speed and endurance:

1. Their massive, elastic legs, which are complemented by hefty, well-developed upper-leg muscles.

2. Their gravitational centre of attraction

3. While running, their wings stabilise and steer them. Ostriches have massive legs that range in length from 40cm to 55cm. Because of their big, long, and strong tendons, their legs have twice as much elastic energy as human legs.

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Large, well-developed leg muscles enable the whole length of the leg to swing forth and back at fast speeds in ostrich legs. Ostriches have broad, powerful legs that can kill a lion with a single well-placed kick.

Furthermore, ostriches have large, spherical, and balanced bodies that enable them to maintain stability despite their enormous size. Their centre of gravity is ideal for sprinting.

Despite the fact that they are flightless, ostriches utilise their huge 2m wings to help them keep balanced at fast speeds, which is necessary to avoid falling and injuring themselves.

Why do Ostriches Run Fast?

Ostriches have a built-in ability to run. Their tendons are strong and supple, and their legs are exceptionally lengthy. Ostrich legs are highly developed for running, and their centre of gravity ensures stability even at speeds of up to 45 mph, making them one of the best long-distance runners in the animal kingdom.

Ostriches require strong legs to escape predators and migrate across territory in search of food, water, and nesting sites because they are so heavy and can’t fly. Ostriches are very resistant to predators due to their speed and stamina, as well as their superb vision and inclination to dwell in groups of 10 to 12.

Ostriches use their amazing sprinting skills to obtain food and other resources in the wide, dry African plains and savannah.

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Other birds would simply fly from location to location in search of food, water, nesting places, and so on, but because ostriches are too heavy to fly, they have evolved to sprint from point A to point B.

How Long Can an Ostrich Run for?

Ostriches have the ability to run for lengthy periods of time without stopping. An ostrich could run a marathon (26 miles) in approximately 40 minutes or less if it maintained a speed of around 30 mph.

How Far Can an Ostrich Run in a Day?

It’s difficult to predict how far an ostrich can run in a day. While we know that ostriches are excellent long-distance runners, there are few, if any, circumstances in which humans can determine how far ostriches can travel before reaching their limitations.

If an ostrich can maintain 30 mph for an hour, it could theoretically traverse 180 miles in a 12-hour day with one hour of rest in between each 1-hour running session. Ostriches don’t run just for the pleasure of running; they run when they need to flee danger or locate food and water.

Can All Ostriches Run Fast?

The Somali ostrich and the common ostrich are two different species of ostrich. Both are extremely fast runners, capable of sprinting at speeds of more than 45 miles per hour. The ostrich is slightly faster than the common ostrich.

Can an Ostrich Outrun a Cheetah?

No terrestrial mammal can outrun a cheetah; they are the world’s fastest land animals, reaching speeds of 75 mph, which is significantly quicker than an ostrich even at top speed!

Cheetahs seldom attack ostriches because they are too large and powerful to kill a cheetah with a single kick. Ostriches aren’t the easiest prey to catch!

Can an Ostrich Outrun a Lion?

Over a long distance, an ostrich will easily outrun a lion, yet lions have similar sprint speeds as ostriches, but they can only maintain them for short periods of time. With a well-timed assault, a lion could easily grab an ostrich if it was close enough.

Ostriches, on the other hand, are far from being easy prey for lions or other predators. An ostrich, with its superb eyesight, strength, speed, and endurance, is more than capable of defending itself against one or even many lions.

Ostriches prefer to dwell in groups of 10 to 12, making them much more difficult to assault.

Can a Human Outrun an Ostrich?

A person would never be able to outpace an ostrich. Ostriches can run twice as fast as the typical human. Their peak speed of 45 mph is much ahead of the current human sprint world record of about 27 mph.

No person, past or present, has ever been able to outrun an ostrich, not even over a small distance, let alone a lengthy one!

What to Do If an Ostrich Chases You?

When they need to protect themselves or their young, ostriches are not particularly violent, although they will attack if surprised or provoked. They are aware of their size and power, and they are not afraid to use it to defend themselves; after all, they live among many massive and lethal predators.

The conventional wisdom is to avoid approaching an ostrich in the first place. Maintain a safe distance of about 100 metres. If an ostrich comes close to you, back away slowly.

If it gets too close, shrink yourself by laying down on your back with your head shielded. At all costs, avoid the kick.

Can Ostriches Kill Humans?

The conventional wisdom is to avoid approaching an ostrich in the first place. Maintain a safe distance of about 100 metres.

If an ostrich comes close to you, back away slowly. If it gets too close, shrink yourself by laying down on your back with your head shielded. At all costs, avoid the kick.