Speed is an important factor when comparing the capabilities of different animals. In the case of birds, running speed can determine a species’ ability to catch prey or evade predators. Two of the fastest running birds are the roadrunner and ostrich.
Maximum Speeds
Roadrunners are able to run at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. This speed allows them to hunt small reptiles, rodents, and insects. Their top speed gives them an advantage when chasing down prey in the deserts of the American southwest and Mexico.
Ostriches are substantially faster runners than roadrunners. The top speed of an ostrich is around 43 miles per hour. At full speed, their long strides can cover up to 16 feet in a single step. This speed enables ostriches to escape from threats on the African savanna.
Typical Speeds
While roadrunners can reach 20 mph, they typically cruise at a more modest pace of about 6 mph. At this speed they can still run down smaller lizards and snakes. This conserves energy and allows them to hunt for longer periods.
Ostriches also have a more typical cruising speed that is lower than their maximum. They typically run around 30 mph while moving between feeding and nesting areas. At this pace they can travel great distances with less energy expenditure.
Acceleration
An important component of speed is acceleration – how quickly an animal can reach top speed. Roadrunners are able accelerate rapidly, going from 0 to 20 mph in just a couple of seconds. Their light bodies allow quick starts and stops.
Due to their much larger size, ostriches do not accelerate as quickly as roadrunners. It takes an ostrich around 10 seconds to get up to top speed. But once they hit 30+ mph their long legs keep them striding at an extremely rapid clip.
Running Style
The running style of these two birds reflects their different body types and habitats.
Roadrunners have light, slender bodies and long tails that offer stability and balance while running. They stay low to the ground with their heads stretched out front.
In contrast, ostriches hold their heads up high while running. Their large bodies remain very stable even at fast speeds. Long, muscular legs give them a loping stride.
Habitat Advantages
Certain features of their native habitats give each bird an edge in running speed.
Roadrunners are built for sudden sprints across dusty desert terrain. Their toe arrangement helps grip sandy and rocky ground. They have feathers specialized to release heat, keeping them cool while dashing across hot, open areas.
Ostriches are well adapted for racing across African plains and savannas. Their powerful legs propel them easily through grasslands. Heat-dissipating feathers aid their speed during hot African days. Large lungs allow them to take in oxygen needed for extended runs.
Hunting and Foraging
Speed aids these species in key survival tasks like hunting prey and foraging.
When hunting, roadrunners rely on short bursts of max speed to catch lizards, snakes, mice, and insects. Their top speed gives them the ability to run down quick prey.
Ostriches use their speed while foraging for plant foods. Their fast pace allows them to cover more ground while spending less time exposed in open areas. Speed helps them find food while reducing risks.
escaping Predators
Speed is also crucial when it comes to escaping predators and other threats. The faster a bird can run, the better its chances if a predator gives chase.
Roadrunners frequently have to outrun coyotes, foxes, hawks, and other predators. Their top speed of 20 mph is often enough to help them get to cover and avoid becoming a meal.
On the African savanna, ostriches rely on speed to avoid big cats like cheetahs and leopards. Their long strides help keep them ahead of most predators. They can outrun all threats aside from the fastest carnivores.
Mobility
Greater running speed equates to increased mobility for these avian species.
Roadrunners use quick bursts of speed while hunting to cover more territory and find food. Their top pace allows them to patrol a larger home range.
An ostrich’s speed enables it to travel up to 50 miles in a day while expending relatively little energy. This lets them migrate and move freely around large swaths of the African plains.
Bird | Top Speed | Typical Speed |
---|---|---|
Roadrunner | 20 mph | 6 mph |
Ostrich | 43 mph | 30 mph |
Conclusion
While both birds are speedy runners, the ostrich has a clear advantage in both maximum and typical speeds. At top pace, the ostrich can more than double the roadrunner’s fastest sprint. Even while cruising, the ostrich maintains speeds far higher than the roadrunner.
This speed difference comes down to the size and leg proportions of these species. Ostriches have much longer and more muscular legs that eat up the ground in huge strides. The roadrunner compensates with quick acceleration, but cannot match the ostrich’s loping gait at full throttle.
So when asking which of these birds is the true speed demon, the clear winner is the ostrich. The large flightless bird of Africa simply has bigger and more powerful running gear.