When people think of tall, flightless birds, the ostrich often takes centre stage. But across the globe, nature has crafted several other birds that look like Ostriches—some in size, some in shape, and others in behaviour. From the emu’s shaggy feathers to the cassowary’s powerful legs and the rhea’s graceful sprint, these birds share more than just long necks and strong legs. While each species has its own identity, they all highlight a fascinating case of convergent evolution—where different species develop similar traits to survive in similar ways.
Let’s explore some incredible birds that look like ostriches—and discover what makes them both similar and uniquely different.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table: Birds That Resemble Ostriches
| Bird Name | Scientific Name | Region Found | Sauce Options | Accompaniments | Refill Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emu | Dromaius novaehollandiae | Australia | Choice of 2: Classic Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Sweet Asian Chile, Honey Dijon Mustard, Hot Honey Glaze, NEW Spicy Honey Mustard, Buttermilk Ranch, Bleu Cheese | Signature Coleslaw, Endless Fries | Unlimited refills after finishing current serving; no sharing; dine-in only |
| Southern Cassowary | Casuarius casuarius | Northern Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia | Honey BBQ, Sweet Asian Chile | Signature Coleslaw, Endless Fries | Unlimited refills after finishing current serving; no sharing; dine-in only |
| Greater Rhea | Rhea americana | South America | Cocktail Sauce | Signature Coleslaw, Endless Fries | Unlimited refills after finishing current serving; no sharing; dine-in only |
| Darwin’s Rhea | Rhea pennata | Chile, Argentina | |||
| Somali Ostrich | Struthio molybdophanes | Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya | |||
| Kori Bustard | Ardeotis kori | Sub-Saharan Africa | |||
| Great Bustard | Otis tarda | Europe, Central Asia | |||
| Marabou Stork | Leptoptilos crumenifer |
Types of Birds That Look Like Ostriches
1. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
Appearance and Physical Traits
The emu is the second-largest bird in the world, closely resembling the ostrich in body shape and movement. Standing up to 6.5 feet (2 metres) tall, it has shaggy brown-grey feathers, a long neck, and strong, muscular legs built for speed. Unlike ostriches, emus have three toes instead of two, but both birds share a similar upright stance and flightless nature.
Habitat and Distribution
Native to Australia, emus are found across the mainland in a variety of landscapes including grasslands, woodlands, and arid scrub. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in both semi-arid and coastal regions, avoiding only heavily forested or desert areas.
Diet and Foraging Behaviour
Emus are omnivores, feeding on seeds, fruit, flowers, insects, and even small animals. They also swallow pebbles to help grind food in their gizzard—much like ostriches do.
Behaviour and Survival Skills
These birds are solitary or live in loose flocks, often covering vast distances in search of food and water. Emus can sprint up to 30 mph (50 km/h) and are excellent jumpers. While generally non-aggressive, they can defend themselves with powerful kicks if threatened.
Also read: Bird Species That Look Like American Robins
Breeding and Nesting
During mating season, males take charge—building ground nests and incubating the eggs laid by multiple females. They remain with the eggs for nearly two months without eating much, a behaviour also seen in rheas and ostriches.
Conservation
Emus are widespread and not considered endangered. In some regions, they’re even regarded as agricultural pests due to their tendency to damage crops.
2. Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)
Appearance and Physical Traits
The Southern Cassowary is one of the most visually striking flightless birds in the world. Standing up to 6.6 feet (2 metres) tall and weighing as much as 130 pounds (60 kg), it has a jet-black body, vivid blue and purple skin on its neck and head, and a prominent bony helmet-like casque. Its three-toed feet include a sharp, dagger-like inner claw capable of inflicting serious injuries.
Habitat and Distribution
Cassowaries are native to the tropical rainforests of northern Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. They prefer dense, humid forests where they can forage for food beneath thick canopy cover.
Diet and Foraging Behaviour
Primarily frugivorous, cassowaries feed on fallen fruits, but they also consume fungi, insects, and small animals. Their role as key seed dispersers is vital to the health and regeneration of rainforest ecosystems.
Behaviour and Temperament
Cassowaries are solitary and highly territorial, often avoiding human contact. However, when cornered or provoked, they can be aggressive, using their powerful legs and sharp claws for defence. Unlike ostriches, they are excellent swimmers, capable of crossing rivers with ease.
Breeding and Parenting
Like emus, male cassowaries incubate the eggs and rear the chicks alone. They provide protection and guidance for up to nine months, teaching their offspring how to forage and survive in the wild.
Conservation
Cassowaries are listed as vulnerable, primarily due to habitat loss, road fatalities, and occasional hunting. Conservation programs aim to protect rainforest habitats and reduce human-cassowary conflict.
Also read: Birds That Look Like a Peacock
3. Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)
Appearance and Physical Traits
The Greater Rhea is South America’s largest bird and bears a strong resemblance to the ostrich. It can reach up to 5.6 feet (1.7 metres) in height and weigh around 66 pounds (30 kg). With long legs, a bare neck, and soft grey-brown feathers, the rhea looks like a slightly smaller and fluffier cousin of the ostrich. Unlike ostriches, it has three toes on each foot and lacks tail feathers.
Habitat and Distribution
Greater rheas are found across Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, thriving in grasslands, savannas, and open forests. They prefer flat, open terrain that allows them to spot predators from a distance and run to safety.
Diet and Foraging Behaviour
They are omnivores, consuming grasses, fruits, seeds, and a range of small animals such as insects, lizards, and frogs. Like ostriches and emus, rheas swallow small stones to aid digestion.
Behaviour and Social Structure
Rheas are social birds, often living in groups of 10 or more. During the breeding season, males become territorial and fiercely guard their nests. They are fast runners—capable of reaching speeds up to 40 mph (64 km/h).
Breeding and Chick Rearing
Greater rhea males are sole caregivers. A male may collect eggs from up to a dozen females and incubate them all in a single nest, protecting and raising as many as 60 chicks at once.
Conservation
While not endangered, the Greater Rhea faces population declines in some areas due to habitat loss and hunting. Protected areas and breeding programs are helping sustain their numbers.
4. Darwin’s Rhea (Rhea pennata)
Appearance and Physical Traits
Darwin’s Rhea, also known as the lesser rhea, is a smaller relative of the greater rhea, but it still resembles an ostrich in build and behaviour. It stands around 3 feet (1 metre) tall and weighs approximately 33 pounds (15 kg). Its plumage is brownish-grey with white speckles, offering excellent camouflage in the dry grasslands of South America.
Habitat and Distribution
This species is found primarily in Patagonia and the Andean foothills of Chile and Argentina. It inhabits arid shrublands, open steppes, and mountain slopes, adapting well to the cooler, harsher environments of the southern cone.
Diet and Foraging Behaviour
Darwin’s Rhea is herbivorous, feeding on grasses, seeds, leaves, and small shrubs. It also occasionally consumes insects, helping it survive in nutrient-scarce environments. Like other flightless birds, it swallows pebbles to assist with digestion.
Behaviour and Movement
This bird is a swift runner, reaching speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), which is crucial for evading predators. Darwin’s rhea typically forms small groups and uses vigilant behaviour to monitor threats in open terrain.
Breeding and Nesting
Similar to other ratites, males take on the responsibility of incubating eggs from several females. They guard the nest and raise the chicks on their own, often leading large broods across the steppe.
Conservation
Darwin’s Rhea is classified as near threatened, largely due to habitat degradation, hunting, and egg collection. Conservation efforts are active in Chile and Argentina, focusing on habitat restoration and captive breeding.
5. Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes)
Appearance and Physical Traits
The Somali Ostrich is a close relative of the common ostrich but has some distinguishing features. It sports bluish-grey skin on its neck and thighs, and males have black-and-white plumage, while females are a more subdued greyish-brown. It stands up to 8 feet (2.4 metres) tall and weighs around 290 pounds (130 kg)—making it nearly identical in size to its more widespread cousin.
Habitat and Distribution
This species is native to the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia, Ethiopia, and parts of Kenya. It thrives in arid and semi-arid environments, such as dry savannas, shrublands, and desert edges.
Diet and Foraging Behaviour
Like other ostriches, the Somali Ostrich is primarily herbivorous, feeding on grasses, leaves, fruits, and seeds. It is capable of surviving in hot, dry conditions with minimal water, extracting moisture from plants.
Behaviour and Adaptations
Solitary or found in small groups, the Somali Ostrich is a high-speed runner, reaching up to 43 mph (70 km/h). It uses its strong legs not only for running but also for defence, capable of delivering powerful kicks to predators.
Breeding and Nesting
They engage in communal nesting, where multiple females lay eggs in a shared nest. The dominant female and the male take turns incubating the clutch, and chicks hatch after about six weeks.
Conservation
The Somali Ostrich is listed as vulnerable due to poaching, habitat loss, and illegal trade. Conservation efforts are limited but growing, especially in protected reserves and transboundary parks in East Africa.
6. Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)
Appearance and Physical Traits
The Kori Bustard is the heaviest flying bird in the world, although it prefers walking to flying. Standing up to 4 feet (1.2 metres) tall and weighing up to 40 pounds (18 kg), it has a stocky build, long neck, and sturdy legs. Its plumage is a mix of grey, brown, and white, providing effective camouflage in dry, open habitats.
Habitat and Distribution
Native to sub-Saharan Africa, the Kori Bustard inhabits savannas, grasslands, and semi-arid plains. It avoids forests and mountainous areas, instead favouring wide-open spaces where it can forage and display.
Diet and Feeding Behaviour
An opportunistic omnivore, the Kori Bustard eats insects, seeds, small mammals, reptiles, and berries. It forages slowly on foot, often seen picking at the ground for prey or edible plants.
Behaviour and Courtship
Though capable of flight, the Kori Bustard only takes to the air when absolutely necessary. Males are known for their dramatic courtship displays, puffing out their necks, fanning their tails, and emitting deep booming calls to attract females.
Breeding and Parenting
Females lay 1–2 eggs in shallow scrapes on the ground and raise the chicks alone. The young are precocial and follow their mother closely until they are old enough to survive independently.
Conservation
The Kori Bustard is classified as near threatened due to hunting, habitat degradation, and collisions with power lines. Conservation efforts are in progress in parts of southern Africa through protected habitats and monitoring programs.
7. Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
Appearance and Physical Traits
The Great Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, rivaling the Kori Bustard. Males can reach up to 4 feet (1.2 metres) in height and weigh as much as 40 pounds (18 kg). They have rust-coloured chests, white bellies, and brown, black, and white speckled plumage, giving them a regal, robust appearance. Their thick necks and long legs contribute to their ostrich-like silhouette.
Habitat and Distribution
This species is native to Europe and Central Asia, particularly Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Mongolia, and parts of Russia. It prefers open plains, grasslands, and steppe habitats, where it can spot threats and perform its elaborate displays.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Great Bustards are omnivores, feeding on seeds, berries, grasses, insects, and occasionally small vertebrates like frogs or rodents. Their diet changes seasonally based on availability.
Behaviour and Displays
Known for their spectacular mating displays, male Great Bustards puff up their feathers, fan out their tails, and lower their wings while making low-frequency calls to attract females. Despite their size, they are strong fliers but tend to walk long distances when undisturbed.
Breeding and Nesting
Females lay 1–3 eggs in shallow depressions on the ground and raise the chicks alone. The young are well-camouflaged and learn to forage early on.
Conservation
The Great Bustard is considered vulnerable, with population declines caused by habitat fragmentation, agriculture, and collisions with power lines. Conservation efforts in Europe, especially in Spain and the UK, are helping to stabilise some local populations.
8. Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer)
Appearance and Physical Traits
The Marabou Stork may not be flightless like the ostrich, but its enormous size, bald head, and long legs give it a similar imposing presence. This bird stands up to 5 feet (1.5 metres) tall with a wingspan reaching 11 feet (3.3 metres). Its scrawny, bare head and neck are adapted for scavenging, while its black-and-white plumage and thick bill complete its distinctive look.
Habitat and Distribution
Found across sub-Saharan Africa, the Marabou Stork inhabits wetlands, savannas, garbage dumps, and riverbanks. It prefers areas near water but is highly adaptable to human-altered landscapes.
Diet and Feeding Behaviour
This bird is a scavenger, often feeding on carrion, scraps, and garbage. It also hunts live prey like frogs, fish, insects, and small mammals. Its bald head helps it stay clean while feeding on carcasses, much like vultures.
Behaviour and Adaptability
Though it can fly, the Marabou Stork often walks slowly on land, resembling the gait and upright stance of ostriches. It is usually seen alone or in loose flocks, especially near human settlements where food is plentiful.
Breeding and Nesting
During breeding season, Marabou Storks build large stick nests in trees. They typically lay 2–3 eggs, and both parents share in incubation and feeding duties.
Conservation
The species is not currently endangered, though it faces local threats from habitat pollution and wetland loss. In some urban areas, it is considered a nuisance due to its scavenging habits.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just Ostrich Lookalikes
Birds that resemble ostriches may span different continents and environments, but they all share remarkable traits—long legs, strong running ability, and a preference for life on the ground. From the emu sprinting across Australian plains to the cassowary lurking in tropical rainforests, these species are powerful examples of convergent evolution at work. While not all are true flightless birds, each one brings a unique survival strategy and ecological role.
As we’ve seen, nature doesn’t just stop at ostriches when crafting large, fascinating birds. Whether they’re booming across the savanna or quietly stalking wetlands, these avian giants remind us how richly diverse—and interconnected—the bird world truly is.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
🔹 What bird is most similar to an ostrich?
The emu is the closest match. It shares size, build, and behaviour, though it has three toes instead of two.
🔹 Are rheas related to ostriches?
Yes. Rheas, ostriches, emus, cassowaries, and kiwis are all part of a group called ratites—large, flightless birds with flat breastbones.
🔹 Can cassowaries be dangerous?
Yes, cassowaries are territorial and powerful, with sharp claws that can injure humans or predators when provoked.
🔹 Do all these birds live in Africa?
No. While ostriches and marabou storks are native to Africa, others come from Australia (emus, cassowaries), South America (rheas), and Europe or Asia (bustards).
🔹 Is the Marabou Stork flightless?
No, it can fly, but its height, walking behaviour, and scavenging style give it a similar look and presence to flightless birds like ostriches.
🔹 Are there any birds like ostriches in the United States?
While the United States doesn’t have native birds exactly like ostriches, rheas and emus are commonly found on farms and ranches across the country. These large, flightless birds are raised for their meat, feathers, and eggs, especially in rural areas of Texas, Florida, and the Midwest.
🔹 Can you see ostrich-like birds in the wild in the USA?
Not naturally in the wild, but ostrich-like birds such as emus and rheas are often kept on private farms and ranches. Some have escaped captivity and formed small, temporary feral populations—particularly in Florida and Texas. You can also see these birds in zoos and wildlife reserves across the U.S.
Welcome to World Birds Life, where the wonder of birds takes center stage. My name is Lexi, and I’m passionate about helping you discover the beauty and joy that birds bring into our lives.
