The average minimum running speed of an ostrich is around 30 to 31 miles per hour, and they can easily maintain this speed for ten miles. When threatened by a predator, the ostrich is capable of achieving much higher speed. Ostriches can run at a top speed of 70 km/hr and can sprint five meters in a single stride. The ostrich is one of the fastest running animals on the African Savannah.
They can also maintain speeds of up to 60 km/hr when running long distances. There are two different ostrich species which are found in Africa, and both run rather quickly. Even though ostriches don’t fly, they possess impressive wings, and they use them to steer and balance themselves when they are running at top speed.
Ostriches are very fast when running. In fact, they are the fastest land birds, being able to run with the normal speed of 45mph, and they tend to run faster whenever they are being threatened by their enemies with the maximum speed of 60mph. Their ability to run very fast is the reason why they don't have a lot of predators, coupled with the fact that they can equally kill their predators by kicking them with their legs. They have two strong and powerful legs.
The only animal that can run faster than adult ostriches is the cheetah because it can run at the maximum speed of 120km/hr. The fact that they can outrun ostriches does not mean they can kill ostriches in most cases. The only animal that can kill ostriches is the lion, but unfortunately, lions can't outrun ostriches. Ostriches can't fly because the way their wings are built does not support this.