Back to the animal collection
Common ostrich
Reference image

Yathin S Krishnappa · Original image & credits · CC BY-SA 4.0

Image is cropped for display. View uncropped original

BIRDS

Common ostrich

Meet common ostrich—one more extraordinary life to discover.

Discover the expedition atlas
A CLOSER LOOK

A reference overview

The common ostrich (Struthio camelus), or simply ostrich, is a species of flightless bird native to certain areas of Africa (and historically, Arabia) and is the largest living species of bird. The common ostrich is one of two extant species of ostriches, the only living members of the genus Struthio in the ratite group of birds. The other is the Somali ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes), which has been recognised as a distinct species by BirdLife International since 2014, having been previously considered a distinctive subspecies of ostrich.

Overview excerpt from Wikipedia contributors · Common ostrich, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Excerpt may be shortened. Overview retrieved 2026-10-09.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT

The evidence behind this discovery

Source-linked

This overview is attributed to Wikipedia contributors and was retrieved on 2026-10-09. Retrieval is not independent scientific review.

Reference media

The picture has a linked creator and license. Extinct-animal images may show a fossil, specimen or reconstruction; a reconstruction is not a photograph of the living animal.

Scope and uncertainty

Map points represent selected regions, not complete ranges or live sightings. References and identifications can change. A linked source is not an expert certification.

Read our evidence and editorial approach →
LET ONE QUESTION OPEN ANOTHER

Where will this discovery take you?

Follow a discovery guide ↗
Saved on this browser.
Return to your collection