The common ostrich is the world’s fastest-running bird, capable of sprinting at recorded speeds up to 97 km/h (60 mph) and sustaining steady runs at over 70 km/h (43 mph). Behind the ostrich, the greater rhea and lesser rhea follow as the next fastest land birds, each capable of reaching speeds above 60 km/h (37 mph). Among birds that can still fly, the great bustard stands out as the fastest runner, with ground speeds estimated up to 50 km/h (31 mph) before taking flight when necessary.
In this article, we explore the world’s fastest birds by their land speed, examining how their bodies are adapted for sprinting, how and when they use their speed, and the crucial role fast running plays in their survival and ecological interactions. We also highlight the conservation challenges many of these species face, and take a brief look at both domesticated runners and extinct prehistoric sprinters that once roamed ancient landscapes.
Common ostrich (Struthio camelus)
- Running speed: As fast as 97 km/h (60 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Powerful legs and long tendons for rapid running and predator evasion.
- Where found: Open savannahs, semi-deserts, and dry grasslands of Africa.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; population stable over a vast range, although local declines from hunting and habitat loss occur.
The common ostrich is the fastest-running bird in the world, capable of reaching bursts up to 97 km/h (60 mph) and maintaining steady speeds over 70 km/h (43 mph) for extended periods. Each stride can cover up to 5 meters (16.4 feet), driven by powerful legs and a highly specialized musculoskeletal system. Although commonly associated with their size, the tallest and heaviest living bird, ostriches’ speed is equally remarkable, evolved as a primary defense mechanism on the open, predator-rich landscapes of Africa.
Common ostriches inhabit dry grasslands, savannahs, and semi-deserts across a broad range from Mauritania and Sudan to South Africa and Namibia. They are highly adapted to open, arid environments, relying on speed and acute eyesight to detect and evade threats. Though mainly herbivorous, they are formidable when provoked; a defensive ostrich can deliver lethal kicks with its clawed feet, making them one of the deadliest birds for predators and unwary humans alike. While the global population remains relatively stable, localized pressures, such as hunting and habitat encroachment, have caused declines in some areas.
Greater rhea (Rhea americana)
- Running speed: As fast as 64 km/h (40 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Long, powerful legs for high-speed sprints across open grasslands.
- Where found: Pampas, cerrado, and open woodlands of South America.
- Conservation status: Near Threatened; population declining due to habitat loss and hunting.
The greater rhea is South America’s largest bird and a swift runner, capable of reaching speeds up to 64 km/h (40 mph) across open landscapes. Despite its bulk and tall stature, the greater rhea’s long, muscular legs allow for rapid sprints when evading predators. Its wings, although useless for flight, assist with balance and sharp turns during high-speed runs across grasslands and open woodlands.
Greater rheas inhabit a variety of open environments, including pampas, cerrado grasslands, and lightly wooded areas across eastern and southern South America. They prefer regions with low, simple vegetation structure but can sometimes be found in cultivated fields, although density is much lower there. Primarily herbivorous, they feed on grasses and insects, and males take on the responsibility of incubating eggs and raising the young. However, populations are declining across much of their range due to habitat fragmentation and hunting pressures.
Lesser rhea (Rhea pennata)
- Running speed: As fast as 60 km/h (37 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Long, powerful legs allow fast running across open and rugged terrains.
- Where found: Steppe, shrubland, deserts, and high-altitude grasslands of South America.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; widespread but declining in parts of its range.
The lesser rhea is a fast and resilient ground-dwelling bird, capable of reaching speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph) when sprinting across open or rugged landscapes. Despite its slightly smaller size compared to the greater rhea, this species is equally well adapted for speed, with strong legs and a low center of gravity that allow it to navigate grasslands, deserts, and high-altitude environments.
Found from southern Peru through Patagonia, the lesser rhea inhabits a wide range of open habitats, including steppe, shrub-steppe, upland bogs, and deserts at elevations from near sea level up to over 4,000 meters. They typically live in small groups, with males gathering several females during the breeding season and incubating large communal nests. Feeding primarily on leaves, fruits, and seeds, lesser rheas are fully herbivorous. Although the global population remains stable enough, declines in certain areas are linked to habitat loss and hunting pressures.
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
- Running speed: As fast as 50 km/h (31 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Strong legs and small balancing wings allow fast running and powerful kicks.
- Where found: Open forests, savannahs, and grasslands across mainland Australia.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; widespread and stable, with a very large population.
The emu is a fast and agile runner, capable of reaching speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph) despite its large size. With each stride stretching up to 2.75 meters (9 feet), emus can quickly cover open ground when evading predators or moving between feeding sites. Their long, muscular legs provide strength and endurance, while their small wings, though useless for flight, assist with balance during high-speed runs across Australia’s varied landscapes.
Adapted to a wide range of open environments, emus are mostly nomadic, traveling in search of food and water across grasslands, savannahs, and lightly wooded areas. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming seeds, fruits, insects, and small animals. Though generally shy, emus can become highly defensive during the breeding season, especially males guarding their chicks. When threatened, they use their strong legs to deliver powerful kicks, making close encounters potentially dangerous.
Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)
- Running speed: As fast as 50 km/h (31 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Muscular legs and dagger-like claws enable fast running, jumping, and powerful defense.
- Where found: Tropical rainforests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; population stable overall, though local threats persist.
The southern cassowary is one of the fastest and most powerful flightless birds, capable of reaching running speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph) through dense rainforest. Despite its massive build, the cassowary moves with explosive speed and agility. Its muscular legs not only drive rapid sprints but also allow the bird to leap vertically up to 2 meters (7 feet) into the air. These same legs, armed with dagger-like inner claws, are a formidable weapon when defending against threats.
Southern cassowaries are solitary and elusive, inhabiting lowland rainforests, mangroves, and adjacent woodlands across New Guinea and northeastern Australia. They forage primarily for fallen fruit, playing a vital ecological role as seed dispersers. However, cassowaries are also among the most dangerous birds in the world, capable of delivering powerful kicks when provoked. Human attacks are rare but well-documented, often involving birds that have become habituated to people. While the species remains widespread, habitat loss and vehicle collisions continue to pose serious threats, especially in Australia.
Great bustard (Otis tarda)
- Running speed: Estimated up to 50 km/h (31 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Strong legs and heavy build allow sprinting to escape predators before taking flight.
- Where found: Open grasslands, steppes, and farmland of Europe and Asia.
- Conservation status: Endangered; declining due to habitat loss, disturbance, and hunting.
The great bustard, one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, is also a surprisingly capable runner. When alarmed, bustards prefer to sprint rather than take to the air, reaching speeds estimated up to 50 km/h (31 mph). Adults have been observed outrunning predators such as red foxes across open steppe, relying on their powerful legs and cryptic plumage to evade threats before resorting to flight only if absolutely necessary.
Native to the grasslands and open farmlands of Europe and Asia, the great bustard’s range has become increasingly fragmented, with many eastern populations nearing extinction. They inhabit flat or gently rolling landscapes with sparse vegetation, often nesting in cereal fields, steppes, and meadows. Their diet is highly varied, including insects, seeds, plants, and small vertebrates. Once widespread across the Eurasian steppes, the species now faces serious threats from agricultural intensification, infrastructure development, and illegal hunting.
Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
- Running speed: As fast as 42 km/h (26 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Long legs and aerodynamic body allow rapid bursts across desert terrain.
- Where found: Deserts, scrublands, and open country of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; population stable and increasing in parts of its range.
The greater roadrunner is one of the few truly fast-running predatory birds, reaching speeds up to 42 km/h (26 mph) across arid landscapes. Its long legs, strong feet, and streamlined body are built for ground speed, enabling it to chase down prey such as lizards, snakes, and insects. This terrestrial lifestyle has made the roadrunner an iconic symbol of desert agility and endurance.
Greater roadrunners inhabit deserts, scrublands, and open semi-arid habitats across the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are highly adaptable, capable of surviving in harsh, dry environments where they forage for a variety of animal prey. Despite their cartoonish fame, real roadrunners are efficient predators and rarely rely on flight except for short glides. The species is currently widespread and secure, with populations generally stable or increasing, thanks to their adaptability and broad habitat tolerance.
Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
- Running speed: As fast as 40 km/h (25 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Strong legs and powerful body allow quick bursts of speed to escape predators.
- Where found: Forests, woodlands, and open fields across North America.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; widespread and increasing in population.
The wild turkey, a symbol of North American wildlife, is not only capable of short flights but also surprisingly fast on foot, reaching running speeds up to 40 km/h (25 mph). With their strong legs and muscular build, wild turkeys rely on rapid sprints to evade predators, often combining bursts of ground speed with quick takeoffs when threatened. Their large, featherless heads and wattled necks also give them one of the strangest appearances among birds, making them both iconic and somewhat eerie to unfamiliar observers.
Native to forests, woodlands, and open fields across the United States, Mexico, and parts of Canada, wild turkeys are highly adaptable birds. They forage mainly on the ground, feeding on seeds, berries, insects, and small reptiles. Once heavily impacted by hunting and habitat loss, wild turkey populations have rebounded impressively thanks to extensive conservation efforts, reintroductions, and their ability to thrive in a variety of habitats, from deep forests to suburban edges.
Helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris)
- Running speed: As fast as 35 km/h (22 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Strong legs and low center of gravity enable fast, stable running across rough terrain.
- Where found: Open savannas, scrublands, and grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; widespread and stable across its vast range.
The helmeted guineafowl is a highly terrestrial bird, built more for running than flying when faced with danger. Capable of reaching speeds up to 35 km/h (22 mph), it maintains remarkable stability while sprinting over uneven ground, thanks to its compact, low-slung body and powerful legs. When alarmed, guineafowl typically prefer to flee on foot rather than take to the air, using speed and agility to escape predators.
Native to much of sub-Saharan Africa, helmeted guineafowl inhabit open grasslands, savannas, and lightly wooded regions. They forage mainly on the ground for seeds, insects, and small invertebrates, moving in flocks that can range from small groups to gatherings of several dozen individuals. Adaptable and resilient, the species remains widespread and abundant across its range, facing no major threats at present.
Lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox)
- Running speed: As fast as 32 km/h (20 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Long legs and lightweight body designed for fast running across dry landscapes.
- Where found: Semi-arid scrublands and open woodlands of Mexico and Central America.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; stable population across a wide range.
The lesser roadrunner is a smaller, lighter cousin of the greater roadrunner, capable of reaching speeds up to 32 km/h (20 mph). Built for agility rather than raw speed, it uses its long legs and streamlined body to navigate dry forests, open scrub, and thorny woodlands. Like its larger relative, the lesser roadrunner is primarily ground-dwelling, with flight used only in short, low bursts when necessary.
This species ranges widely through Mexico and parts of Central America, preferring dry, open habitats with sparse cover. It feeds on a mix of insects, small reptiles, and fruits, making it a highly opportunistic forager. Although less studied and less widely known than the greater roadrunner, the lesser roadrunner is common within its range and faces no major conservation threats at present.
Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)
- Running speed: As fast as 32 km/h (20 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Long legs and broad wings aid rapid running and balance while chasing prey.
- Where found: Open plains, grasslands, and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Conservation status: Endangered; declining due to habitat loss, disturbance, and hunting.
The secretarybird is a unique bird of prey, famous not for its flight but for its speed and hunting prowess on foot. Capable of running up to 32 km/h (20 mph), secretarybirds chase down prey across open terrain, often running with wings spread for balance and maneuverability. Their extremely long legs allow them to cover ground quickly and deliver swift, powerful kicks to dispatch snakes, lizards, and small mammals.
This striking species inhabits open grasslands, savannas, and lightly wooded areas across sub-Saharan Africa. While generally nomadic, individuals in wetter regions tend to stay more localized. Secretarybirds feed mainly on insects but also prey on reptiles, rodents, and small birds. Although once widespread and locally common, secretarybird populations are now undergoing sharp declines due to habitat degradation, hunting, and capture for trade.
Scaled quail (Callipepla squamata)
- Running speed: As fast as 24 km/h (15 mph).
- Notable adaptations: Short, powerful legs allow rapid running across open terrain to evade predators.
- Where found: Dry grasslands, scrublands, and deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
- Conservation status: Least Concern; widespread, though experiencing some localized declines.
The scaled quail is a ground-dwelling bird well-adapted to running rather than flying when threatened. Capable of sprinting at speeds up to 24 km/h (15 mph), it uses its short but strong legs to dart across dry, open landscapes. Preferring to stay low to the ground, scaled quail often rely on quick bursts of speed to reach cover rather than taking to the air.
Native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, scaled quail inhabit dry grasslands, scrublands, and deserts. They feed mainly on seeds, insects, and green vegetation, foraging mostly on foot in small coveys. Although the overall population remains widespread, localized declines have been noted due to habitat loss and fragmentation across parts of their range.
Unexpected fast runners
While most fast-running birds are wild species, even domesticated birds like the common chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) retain impressive speed and agility. Descended from wild junglefowl of Asia, chickens can sprint at speeds up to 14 km/h (9 mph), using rapid bursts of movement and quick reflexes to escape predators or chase food. Though their flight ability is limited, their running skills remain vital, helping them navigate farmyards and forests with surprising nimbleness.
Fast sprinters of the past
Long before the ostriches, emus, and cassowaries ruled the grasslands, prehistoric flightless birds also evolved for speed. Among them, the so-called terror birds (Phorusrhacids) of South America were particularly formidable. Although mainly known for their powerful beaks and predatory lifestyle, some species are believed to have been surprisingly fast runners, capable of reaching speeds up to 48-50 km/h (30-31 mph) – comparable to modern-day cassowaries and emus. Strong legs, lightweight builds, and a dynamic running posture likely allowed these ancient birds to chase down prey across open terrain, maintaining a legacy of speed that continues among today’s ground-dwelling birds.