The Somali ostrich is northern Kenya’s answer to the more familiar common ostrich — bigger personality, blue-grey skin, and just as capable of outrunning almost anything on the savanna. Recognised as its own distinct species, it’s effectively the sixth member of Samburu’s celebrated group of northern specialities, and its bizarre communal nesting system is one of the more surprising things you’ll learn on a Samburu game drive. Explore our Kenya safaris for a Samburu itinerary.
Key Highlights
- Recognised as its own species, distinct from the common ostrich found further south
- Breeding males have distinctive blue-grey neck and leg skin, versus pink-red in the common ostrich
- One of the fastest bipedal animals on Earth, capable of sustained sprints over 60 km/h
- Multiple females lay eggs in one communal nest, but the dominant female can tell her own eggs apart by feel
- Chicks from several families are gathered into large creches for shared protection
- Best seen in Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves in northern Kenya
A Species of Its Own
For a long time, the Somali ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes) was considered just a subspecies of the common ostrich, but genetic and physical differences were significant enough that it’s now recognised as a fully distinct species. The clearest giveaway is colour: breeding males develop striking blue-grey skin on the neck and legs, quite different from the pink-red skin of a breeding male common ostrich. Females tend to be more uniformly brown, and the species as a whole favours drier, scrubbier habitat than its more grassland-loving relative.
Size-wise, the two species are hard to tell apart — a male Somali ostrich can stand over 2.5 metres tall and weigh well over 100kg — but the range gives it away too: the Somali ostrich is found only in the semi-arid country of northern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, and Somalia, making it a genuine northern speciality on the safari circuit.
One of the Fastest Animals on Two Legs
Like its common ostrich cousin, the Somali ostrich is capable of remarkable speed, sustaining a sprint of well over 60 km/h for extended periods — making it, alongside the common ostrich, one of the fastest bipedal animals alive. What’s particularly impressive isn’t just the top speed but the endurance: while a cheetah can hit far higher speeds, it can only sustain them for a matter of seconds, whereas an ostrich can keep up a fast sprint for tens of minutes at a time.
A Strange Approach to Nesting
Somali ostrich breeding is unusually complex. A dominant male mates with a primary female and several secondary females, and all of them lay their eggs in a single communal nest scraped into the sand by the male. That nest can end up holding dozens of eggs from multiple females — but the dominant female isn’t fooled. She’s able to distinguish her own eggs from the others by touch, and deliberately arranges the nest so her eggs sit in the safer, better-incubated centre, while the secondary females’ eggs get pushed to the outer edge, where they’re more exposed to predators and temperature swings.
Incubation itself is a day-night handoff: the male, with his darker plumage, sits on the eggs overnight for better camouflage from nocturnal predators, while the female, with lighter brown feathers, takes over during the day. Eggs hatch after roughly six weeks of this shared incubation.
Safety in Numbers for Chicks
Ostrich chicks face heavy predation from martial eagles, hyenas, jackals, and even snakes, and most don’t survive their first six months even with parental protection. To improve the odds, chicks from multiple families are often gathered into large creches, watched over by just one or two adult pairs while the other parents go off to forage — a strategy that spreads the risk across a bigger, harder-to-target group rather than leaving small family units more exposed.
When a threat does get close, adult ostriches defend chicks by spreading their wings over them like a shield, and if that fails, they’ll deliver a powerful forward kick — strong enough to seriously injure or drive off a hyena — as a last line of defence.
Where to See a Somali Ostrich
Samburu National Reserve is the most reliable place to find Somali ostrich on safari, with sightings likely on almost any full day of game drives. Early morning is the best time to appreciate the male’s blue-grey neck colour at its most vivid, before the harsher midday light washes it out. Across the river, Buffalo Springs National Reserve’s open plains often hold even higher densities, making it a good option for watching the species’ distinctive walking and running behaviour in open country.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Somali ostrich different from the common ostrich?
The Somali ostrich is now recognised as its own species, distinguished by the breeding male’s blue-grey neck and leg skin, compared to the pink-red skin of a common ostrich male. It’s also restricted to a more northern, arid range.
How fast can a Somali ostrich run?
It can sustain sprints well over 60 km/h for extended periods, making it one of the fastest bipedal animals in the world.
Where can you see Somali ostrich in Kenya?
Samburu National Reserve and neighbouring Buffalo Springs National Reserve are the most reliable places to see Somali ostrich on safari.
Do Somali ostriches share nests?
Yes. Multiple females lay eggs in one communal nest built by the dominant male, though the dominant female can identify her own eggs by touch and positions them more safely in the nest’s centre.
Plan Your Safari
Our safari specialists can arrange a Samburu itinerary built around the region’s northern specialities, including the Somali ostrich.
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