©Donald Hobern: Southern Cassowary
Colours
Distinguishing features
It has stiff, bristly black plumage, a blue face and neck, red on the nape and two red wattles measuring around 17.8 cm in length hanging down around its throat. A horn-like brown casque, measuring 13 to 16.9 cm high, sits atop the head.
The bill can range from 9.8 to 19 cm. The three-toed feet are thick and powerful, equipped with a lethal dagger-like claw up to 12 cm (4.7 in) on the inner toe.
The plumage is sexually monomorphic, but the female is dominant and larger with a longer casque, larger bill and brighter-colored bare parts. The juveniles have brown longitudinal striped plumage. (Wikipedia)
Size
- From 150 cm to 190 cm (Height)
Weight
- Up to 85 kg
Wingspan
- Wingspan data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Interesting facts
- It is the largest Australian bird though the Emu may be slightly taller.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
The Southern Cassowary is distributed in tropical rainforests of Indonesia, New Guinea and northeastern Australia, and it prefers elevations below 1,100 m in Australia, and 500 m on New Guinea. (Wikipedia)
Diet
It forages on the forest floor for fallen fruit and is capable of safely digesting some fruits toxic to other animals. They also eat fungi, and some insects and small vertebrates.(Wikipedia)
