Introduction
The Somali Ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes, is a large, flightless bird of the Horn of Africa. It belongs to the ostrich family, Struthionidae, and is recognised as a distinct species from the Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus. It is sometimes called the Blue-necked Ostrich because of the blue-grey skin on much of the head, neck and legs, especially in males.
Physical Description
The Somali Ostrich is one of the world’s largest living birds. Adults can exceed 2.5 metres in height, although reliable measurements vary between individuals and populations. As in other ostriches, it has a long neck, long powerful legs, a broad body and small wings that cannot support flight. Its two-toed feet are adapted for rapid running.
Males have mainly black body plumage with contrasting white wing and tail feathers. Their bare skin is generally blue-grey, becoming brighter blue during the breeding season, while the bill and parts of the legs may become pinkish. Females are smaller and have mostly grey-brown plumage, with duller blue-grey or pinkish bare skin. Juveniles and immature birds resemble females and gradually develop adult plumage as they mature.
Range and Habitat
The Somali Ostrich is resident in the Horn of Africa. Its range includes southern and eastern Ethiopia, Somalia and adjacent north-eastern Kenya. It is associated mainly with dry grasslands, thornscrub, bushland and semi-desert habitats. Compared with the Common Ostrich, it more often uses areas with shrubs and taller vegetation rather than very open grassland.
The species is not considered migratory, although local movements may occur in response to rainfall, food availability and changing conditions. Its distribution overlaps in places with the Masai form of the Common Ostrich, but differences in habitat use and appearance help distinguish the two taxa.
Behaviour and Diet
Somali Ostriches are active mainly during the day and are often seen alone, in pairs or in small groups. They are powerful runners and may reach speeds of about 70 kilometres per hour for short periods when escaping danger. They rely on keen eyesight, speed and powerful kicks for defence.
The diet consists mainly of grasses, leaves, seeds, shoots and other plant material. In dry habitats, succulent plants may provide an important source of moisture. The species may also take insects and other small invertebrates, and occasionally small vertebrates. Its browsing habits allow it to feed among shrubs and thorny vegetation where a primarily grazing species may be less effective.
Breeding involves communal nesting. Several females may lay in the same shallow scrape in the ground, with a dominant female generally contributing most of the eggs. The male and dominant female incubate the eggs, with the male usually taking the main role at night. Male ostriches attract females through displays involving wing movements, postures and booming calls. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest soon after hatching, later forming groups that may be accompanied by adults.
Identification Tips
- Look for a very large, long-necked and flightless bird with exceptionally long legs and a two-toed foot.
- A male Somali Ostrich has black-and-white plumage and blue-grey bare skin on the neck and legs, often becoming more vivid blue during breeding.
- Females and immature birds are grey-brown and can be more difficult to separate from female Common Ostriches.
- Compared with the Common Ostrich, the Somali Ostrich typically shows bluer bare skin in males and is more closely associated with bushland and thornscrub.
- Males generally lack the distinct white ring at the base of the neck seen in the Common Ostrich. Females often have pale eyes, another useful field mark.
- The species is usually recognised by its combination of size, flightlessness, blue-grey bare skin and occurrence in the dry habitats of the Horn of Africa.
Conservation Status
The Somali Ostrich is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Major threats include habitat loss and degradation, hunting, collection of eggs and the use or trade of ostrich products. Agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, insecurity and reduced enforcement can increase pressure on remaining populations.
Conservation priorities include protecting dry grassland, scrub and thornbush habitats, reducing illegal hunting and egg collection, improving monitoring and supporting community-based conservation. Further research is also needed to clarify population size, trends, local movements and the effects of changing rainfall patterns across the species’ range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Somali Ostrich live?
The Somali Ostrich lives in the Horn of Africa, including southern and eastern Ethiopia, Somalia and adjacent north-eastern Kenya. It favours dry grasslands, thornscrub, bushland and semi-desert habitats.
Is the Somali Ostrich a separate species?
Yes. The Somali Ostrich is currently recognised as Struthio molybdophanes, distinct from the Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Common Ostrich.
How can a Somali Ostrich be identified?
Males have black-and-white plumage and blue-grey bare skin on the head, neck and legs. Females and immature birds are mainly grey-brown. The species is also associated more strongly with bush and thornscrub than the Common Ostrich.
What does the Somali Ostrich eat?
Its diet is mainly plant-based and includes grasses, leaves, seeds, shoots and succulent plants. It may also eat insects, other invertebrates and occasional small vertebrates.
Can the Somali Ostrich fly?
No. Like other ostriches, it is flightless. Its small wings are used for balance, display and temperature regulation, while its long legs provide speed and agility.
Is the Somali Ostrich endangered?
The Somali Ostrich is classified as Vulnerable, meaning it faces a high risk of population decline in the wild. Habitat loss, hunting, egg collection and trade in ostrich products are among the principal concerns.
References
- BirdLife International. n.d. “Somali Ostrich Struthio molybdophanes Species Factsheet.” BirdLife DataZone. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/somali-ostrich-struthio-molybdophanes. Accessed 8 September 2026.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology. n.d. “Somali Ostrich Struthio molybdophanes.” eBird Species. Available at: https://ebird.org/species/ostric3/KE-300. Accessed 8 September 2026.
- Del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J., eds. 1992. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
- Freitag, S. and Robinson, T. J. 1993. “Phylogeographic Patterns in Mitochondrial DNA of the Ostrich (Struthio camelus).” The Auk 110(3): 614–622. https://doi.org/10.2307/4088425.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. and Rasmussen, P., eds. 2026. IOC World Bird List, version 15.2. International Ornithologists’ Union. Available at: https://www.worldbirdnames.org/. Accessed 8 September 2026.
- International Union for Conservation of Nature and BirdLife International. n.d. “Struthio molybdophanes, Somali Ostrich.” IUCN Red List assessment, presented through BirdLife DataZone. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/somali-ostrich-struthio-molybdophanes. Accessed 8 September 2026.
- Reichenow, A. 1883. Original description of Struthio molybdophanes. Mittheilungen des Ornithologischen Vereins in Wien, p. 202.
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