From Opus

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Alternative name: Common Ostrich
Includes Somali Ostrich

Struthio camelus

Photo by Leon

[edit] Identification

World's largest bird with males weighing up to 156 kg.
Height 200-250cm, female shorter

• Long bare neck
• legs flesh-pink becoming brighter during the breeding season

[edit] Male

Brownish black with white neck collar, wings and tail

[edit] Female and Immature

Greyish-brown

[edit] Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa.

[edit] Taxonomy

Subspecies: Nominate race is found in north of range from Mauritania to Sudan and northern Uganda, replaced in East Africa by massaicus (pinkish-grey neck, flushing bright red during the breeding season and narrower white neck ring). Southern African range is occupied by australis but pure wild birds are perhaps confined to Namibia and Botswana (neck is greyish, flushing red in breeding male and lacks white collar, tail brown). North-west African birds are sometimes separated as spatzi and Middle Eastern birds belonged to syriacus.

[edit] Habitat

Semi-desert, arid short-grass plains and open wooded savanna.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Voice

Mainly silent but makes occasional hissing sounds.
Male has a deep booming during the breeding season.

[edit] External Links