Somali Ostrich

Struthio molybdophanes

This towering, flightless bird roams the arid landscapes of East Africa, standing tall as one of the largest living bird species on Earth.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Somali Ostrich is a massive, flightless bird with a long neck and powerful legs. Males have predominantly black plumage with white wing and tail feathers and a grey-blue neck and thighs. Their head and neck are nearly bare, with sparse downy feathers.

Females are smaller and have dull brown feathers. Both sexes have long eyelashes, large eyes, and a sharp beak. Juveniles resemble females but are slightly smaller and have streaked necks.

Size

Length

210cm to 275cm

Wingspan

200cm to 250cm

Weight

90kg to 130kg

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Grey Black

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Grey

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Somali Ostrich can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Somali Ostrich is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Somali Ostrich can be found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Somali Ostriches inhabit arid and semi-arid savannahs, grasslands, and scrublands across the Horn of Africa. Their range includes parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and possibly Djibouti.

They prefer open areas with scattered vegetation and avoid dense forests or heavily wooded regions. During dry seasons, they may congregate near water sources or areas with more abundant vegetation.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Somali Ostrich. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons