Ostrich hunting in Ethiopia

The Ostrich is the world’s largest and heaviest living bird. The males are black with white wings and tail feathers, often stained a chestnut colour from the soil. They have huge eyes, a small head, and an almost naked long neck. Males have long legs that turn reddish-pink in the breeding season and can run at speeds of over 70 km/h (45 mph). Ostriches are found in the more arid, semi-desert open regions of Ethiopia. Two subspecies of Ostrich occur in Ethiopia: the Masai Ostrich in the northeast and the Somali Ostrich in the south and eastern parts of the country. These massive birds feed on plant material plucked from the ground or stripped off the plant with their massive beaks. Both males and females take turns protecting and hatching the nest and eggs. The males do night duty, as their black colour helps camouflage them in the dark. The deep booming call of an ostrich can often be mistaken for that of a Lion. Ostriches are classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN, and no special permits are required to hunt an Ostrich.