Male Somali Ostriches have blue-grey necks and legs, while females have dull pinkish necks and legs. They use dry habitats such as grassland and thorn scrub and may occur in small groups.
A male has blue-grey skin on the neck and legs. During breeding, the blue areas become brighter, while the bill and front of the legs turn pink. A female has dull pinkish neck and leg skin.
Somali Ostriches inhabit northeastern Africa, using arid grassland, thornbush and woodland. They browse vegetation, and males have blue-grey necks and legs; the bill and front of the legs become pink during breeding.
IUCN’s 2014 report used their recognition as a distinct species to illustrate the conservation importance of taxonomy: the Somali species was assessed as Vulnerable.
Hunting, egg collection, persecution and habitat degradation are pressures. Livestock and crop-related land use overlap habitat. Conservation needs to address exploitation and retain these dry landscapes.
IUCN Red List (conservation institution account) · Vulnerable · Global
Hunting, egg collection, persecution and habitat loss or degradation are threats. Priorities include identifying important sites and reducing excessive exploitation.