What is the largest bird?
The ostrich is the largest bird. Males can stand about 2.7 meters (9 feet) tall and weigh more than 100 kilograms. Ostriches cannot fly but are excellent runners.
Ostriches live in the savannas and deserts of Africa. They can sprint at about 70 km/h and keep up a steady 50 km/h for long distances, making them the fastest birds on land. A single kick from an ostrich's powerful legs can be dangerous to predators.
Ostriches also lay the largest eggs of any living bird, each weighing about 1.4 kilograms, equal to roughly two dozen chicken eggs. Their eyes are about 5 centimeters across, larger than their brains.
The largest flying birds
Among birds that can fly, the wandering albatross has the longest wingspan, up to about 3.5 meters. The heaviest flying birds include the kori bustard and the great bustard, which can weigh up to around 18 to 20 kilograms.
Did You Know?
The idea that ostriches bury their heads in the sand is a myth. They lower their heads to turn their eggs in nests dug into the ground, which may have started the story.