About Struthio molybdophanes Reichenow, 1883
Struthio molybdophanes, commonly known as the Somali ostrich, is generally similar to other ostriches, but can be distinguished by the blue skin of its neck and thighs. Male Somali ostriches develop bright blue neck and thigh skin during the mating season. Unlike other ostriches, its neck does not have a characteristic broad white ring, and its tail feathers are white. Males of this species are larger than females. As far as is currently known, the Somali ostrich is similar in size to other ostriches, and its average body mass may be slightly smaller than that of some common ostrich subspecies, particularly the nominate race S. c. camelus. Captive Somali ostriches have been reported to weigh around 105 kg (231 lb), but this weight may not accurately represent wild individuals, because captive birds have access to more consistent food than wild ostriches. The Somali ostrich is one of the two largest extant bird species. It occurs mostly in the Horn of Africa, especially in north-eastern Ethiopia, southern Djibouti, most of Kenya, and across most of Somalia. Ecologically, the Somali ostrich differs from the common ostrich, even though their ranges overlap in some areas. The Somali ostrich prefers bushier areas with denser vegetation, where it feeds primarily by browsing, while the common ostrich is mainly a grazer that lives in open savanna. There have also been reports of interbreeding difficulties between these two taxa.
