While large, flightless birds are a recognizable part of Australia’s landscape, ostriches are not native to Australia. Their presence is primarily a result of human introduction for commercial purposes. Any ostriches found outside of managed farms are descendants of escaped or released birds, forming isolated populations.
Emus: Australia’s Native Big Bird
Australia’s own large, flightless bird is the emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae, which is often mistaken for an ostrich. Emus are the second largest living bird globally, only surpassed in size by the ostrich. They stand between 1.5 and 1.9 meters (5 to 6.3 feet) tall and can weigh up to 60 kilograms. Their bodies are covered in shaggy, grey-brown feathers.
Emus possess powerful, long legs with three forward-facing toes, enabling them to run at speeds up to 50 kilometers per hour (31 mph). They are widespread across most of mainland Australia, inhabiting diverse environments such as open plains, savannah woodlands, and sclerophyll forests. As omnivores, their diet consists of fruits, seeds, flowers, shoots, and insects. Unlike ostriches, which have two toes and distinct feather coloration between sexes, emus have three toes, and their plumage is consistently dark across both sexes. Emu eggs are also distinctly blue-green, contrasting with the white eggs laid by ostriches.
Ostriches in Australia: An Introduced Species
Ostriches were first introduced to Australia in the late 1800s to establish an industry for feather production. The ostrich farming industry experienced fluctuations, which led to many birds escaping or being deliberately released.
As a result, small, isolated populations of ostriches have existed in the wild, primarily in the rangelands of South Australia. These feral populations are not widespread and remain very limited in number. The Australian climate and other factors have posed challenges for their breeding success, including issues with infertility, suggesting these populations are unlikely to expand significantly or become naturalized.
Commercial Ostrich Farming
Today, the primary reason ostriches are found in Australia is commercial farming. This industry produces various products. Ostrich meat is popular for its lean qualities, and their leather and feathers are utilized in fashion. Eggs are also harvested.
Ostrich farms operate in several Australian states. Larger operations manage thousands of birds for domestic and international markets. Despite their presence on farms, the growth of the industry faces challenges, including issues with fertility and chick health. Furthermore, strict quarantine regulations limit the import of new birds, meaning the industry’s expansion depends significantly on existing Australian stock.