Habitat and Range Description Food Breeding Sounds More Images Recent Literature

Emus

Order: CasuariiformesEmu

Family: Dromiceidae

1 species

HABITAT AND RANGE:

Australia; scrub and savannah habitats;

DESCRIPTION:

flightless; up to 1.9 m tall; up to 45 kg; bill short, flattened; moplike plumage; long aftershafts; wings much reduced, with no real quills; no rectrices; 3 toes; legs bare;

FOOD:

diet of fruit, caterpillars, some insects;

BREEDING:

monogamous; females slightly larger; 5-15 eggs/female; incubation by male alone; young nidifugous; sexual maturity 2 years

SOUNDS:

MORE IMAGES:

RECENT LITERATURE:

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(Image taken from Pizzey, Graham. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus&Robertson: Sydney, 1997)