A LITTLE WILDLIFE PERSPECTIVE
How tall is an ostrich?
Compare your height to an ostrich.
A male ostrich can stand about 2.1–2.7 m tall; a female stands about 1.7–1.9 m. It is the tallest living bird.
A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE
Ostrich
next to the average.
Average U.S. adults, side by side.
- Average man (U.S.)5 ft 8.9 in
- Ostrich7 ft 10.5 in
- Average woman (U.S.)5 ft 3.5 in
How do you measure up?
Enter your height to stand beside an ostrich.
Side by side
- Ostrich7 ft 10.5 in
- Your placeAdd your height
The animal is an example adult in the pose shown. Its full outline is scaled to 240 cm. Shoulder height and body length are explained below.
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GET TO KNOW THE ANIMAL
Small facts. Big discoveries.
Ostrich · Struthio camelus
An ostrich cannot fly, but its long legs make it a powerful runner. A tall neck and very large eyes give it a good view across open country.
An ostrich’s wings still have work to do: it spreads them for balance during turns and uses them in courtship displays. Its feathers are loose and shaggy rather than tightly interlocking like those of many flying birds, giving the body a softer outline above those powerful legs.
- Ostriches have just two toes on each foot.
- They do not bury their heads in sand. Lying flat can make their pale head blend into the ground.
How big do adults get?
- Male
- 2.1–2.7 m tall
- Female
- 1.7–1.9 m tall
These are standing heights. Typical adult weights are roughly 100–130 kg for males and 90–110 kg for females.
Height, length, or weight?
Standing height runs from the ground to the top of the animal. Shoulder height stops at the top of the shoulders. Length runs along the body; it is not how tall an animal stands. Weight tells us how heavy it is.
Explore the science: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance ↗