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Struthioniformes - Ostriches, Emus, Rheas, Kiwis

There are around 15 species of flightless birds in this order. They are found in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.

The birds in this order don’t have a keel on their sternum or breastbone. The keel is the part of the breastbone on a bird where the wing muscles are attached.

The birds in this order have small wings and strong legs. Most species are good runners. They are omnivores.

  • The southern brown kiwi is found on Stewart Island and Fiordland on South Island in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Southern Brown Kiwi
    (Apteryx australis)
    The southern brown kiwi is found on Stewart Island and Fiordland on South Island in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • One of the biggest threats to the northern brown kiwi is introduced predators. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Northern Brown Kiwi
    (Apteryx mantelli)
    One of the biggest threats to the northern brown kiwi is introduced predators. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The dwarf cassowary is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in steep mountainous terrain at altitudes of up to 10,000 ft. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Dwarf Cassowary
    (Casuarius bennetti)
    The dwarf cassowary is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in steep mountainous terrain at altitudes of up to 10,000 ft. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • Southern cassowaries are found in lowland rainforests in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Southern Cassowary
    (Casuarius casuarius)
    Southern cassowaries are found in lowland rainforests in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The northern cassowary is found in the northern lowlands of New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Northern Cassowary
    (Casuarius unappendiculatus)
    The northern cassowary is found in the northern lowlands of New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • Emus are large, flightless, ostrich-like birds. They are the largest bird found in Australia and the second largest bird in the world.
    Emu
    (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
    Emus are large, flightless, ostrich-like birds. They are the largest bird found in Australia and the second largest bird in the world.
  • The lesser rhea is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Lesser Rhea
    (Pterocnemia pennata)
    The lesser rhea is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The ostrich is found in Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
    Ostrich
    (Pterocnemia pennata)
    The ostrich is found in Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • The greater rhea is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Greater Rhea
    (Rhea americana)
    The greater rhea is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened

Did You Know?

The ostrich, like the other birds in this order, has small wings and strong legs.
The ostrich, like the other birds in this order, has small wings and strong legs.

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