Ostriches, belonging to the genus Struthio in the order Struthioniformes, are a type of flightless bird. They hold the distinction of being the heaviest and largest living birds, with adult common ostriches weighing between 63.5 and 145 kilograms. Additionally, they lay the largest eggs among all land animals. These remarkable creatures can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h (43.5 mph), making them the fastest birds on land. Ostriches are bred and raised worldwide, with notable industries in the Philippines and Namibia. The demand for ostrich leather is quite profitable, and their large feathers are often used as decorative plumes for ceremonial headgear. Humans have been utilizing ostrich eggs for thousands of years.

The ostriches are part of the infra-class Palaeognathae, which includes various flightless birds known as ratites. This diverse group also encompasses emus, rheas, cassowaries, kiwis, as well as extinct species like elephant birds and moas. There are currently two living species of ostrich: the common ostrich, found in extensive regions of sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, native to the Horn of Africa. While the common ostrich was historically present in the Arabian Peninsula, ostriches were once widespread across Asia, reaching as far east as China and Mongolia during the Late Pleistocene and possibly extending into the Holocene.