Somali Ostrich
Struthio molybdophanes
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="struthio-molybdophanes"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/struthio-molybdophanes/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/struthio-molybdophanes/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/struthio-molybdophanes/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="struthio-molybdophanes"></birdfyi-bird>About
A slightly smaller ratite than the Common Ostrich with distinctive blue-grey neck and thigh skin in breeding males. Flightless and capable of speeds up to 70 km/h. Native to the Horn of Africa—Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya—in arid scrublands. Males display vivid bare-skin coloration during the breeding season.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 102.1 cm | 40.2 in |
| Weight | 107875.0 g | 3805.18 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Males have black body feathers with white wing plumes and tail; neck and thighs bare, blue-grey skin. Females are dull grayish-brown. Chicks cryptically streaked.
Habitat & Range
Arid and semi-arid scrublands, open savanna, and thornbush in the Horn of Africa. Prefers flat or gently undulating terrain with sparse vegetation. Avoids dense forest and permanently waterlogged ground.
Geographic Range
Restricted to the Horn of Africa—Somalia, eastern Ethiopia, northern Kenya. Non-migratory; sedentary year-round in arid scrublands.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous grazer; pecks roots, seeds, succulents, and insects across semi-arid Horn of Africa scrublands. Swallows pebbles for digestion.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 42-46 days. Fledging: 120-150 days.
Clutch Size
5-11
Sound
Song
Similar to Common Ostrich: a deep, resonant booming roar from males during breeding, though less studied. Also gives hissing sounds. Vocalizations relatively undocumented in detail.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Struthioniformes (Ostriches) |
| Family | Struthionidae (Ostriches) |
| Genus | Struthio |
| Species | Struthio molybdophanes |
Distribution
Somali Ostrich has been recorded in 1 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Somali Ostrich eat?
Where does the Somali Ostrich live?
Is the Somali Ostrich endangered?
How does the Somali Ostrich nest?
What does the Somali Ostrich sound like?
How big is the Somali Ostrich?
What order and family does the Somali Ostrich belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Struthionidae family