Orientornis is an extinct species of ratite from the Miocene of China.
Description Remains of a pelvis, including a synsacrum, were recovered from mudstone in the Linxia Basin, Guanghe County, Gansu Province, northwest China. Based on the size of these remains, it is believed to have been slightly larger than Struthio camelus. When this bird lived, the area is believed to have been either open grasslands or wetlands.
Taxonomy Orientornis was originally named as a species of Struthio, S. linxiaensis, by Hou et al. (2005). However, Wang (2008) placed the taxon in its own genus, Orientornis.Wang S. 2008. Rediscussion in the taxonomic assignment of Struthio linxiaensis Hou, et al., 2005. Acta Paleotologica Sinica 47:362–368.
Mikhailov and Zelenkov (2020) have disputed the validity of this genus, treating Orientornis as a junior synonym of Struthio, and noting that a direct comparison with Struthio wimani is required, as both taxa may represent the same species.
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