Jun 24, 2025

Ostrich: Built for land, not for flight

Siddhartha Jana

The flightless giant

Ostriches are the world’s largest birds, reaching up to 9 feet in height and weighing up to 150 kilos, but they can’t fly due to their massive size.

Source: Canva

Speed over flight

Despite being flightless, ostriches can sprint up to 70 km/h (43 mph), making them one of the fastest land animals.

Source: Canva

Powerful defenders

Ostriches have strong legs capable of delivering deadly kicks—powerful enough to fend off predators like lions.

Source: Canva

Egg-cellent records

They lay the biggest eggs of any land animal—equivalent in volume to about 24 chicken eggs and often kept in shared nests.

Source: Canva

Masters of dry lands

Ostriches thrive in deserts and grasslands, getting most of their hydration from plants rather than direct water sources.

Source: Canva

Flexible diet

Their diet includes seeds, roots, grasses, and occasionally insects, allowing them to adapt to different environments.

Source: Canva

Farmed worldwide

Ostriches are raised on farms for their meat, leather, and feathers. However, some wild species have vanished due to habitat loss and hunting.

Source: Canva

Evolved to survive

Ostriches have adapted impressively to life on land, proving that being different—like not flying—can be a powerful advantage.

Source: Canva

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