The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is Australia’s largest native bird and the second-largest living bird globally, surpassed only by the ostrich. It is found across much of the Australian mainland.
Defining the Emu
The emu belongs to the ratite group of flightless birds, which includes ostriches, rheas, and cassowaries. Ratites possess a flat breastbone, unlike flying birds. Emus typically stand between 1.5 and 1.9 meters (4.9 to 6.2 feet) tall. Their weight ranges from 18 to 60 kilograms (40 to 132 pounds), with females generally larger.
Emus feature shaggy, grey-brown plumage with loose, hair-like feathers that provide insulation. Their long necks often display pale blue skin. While they possess small, vestigial wings, these are not used for flight. Instead, emus rely on powerful, long legs, equipped with three forward-facing toes, enabling them to run up to 50 kilometers per hour (31 mph). Their strong legs also deliver powerful defensive kicks.
Emu’s World: Habitat and Diet
Emus are widely distributed across mainland Australia, inhabiting woodlands, grasslands, and semi-arid regions. They are less commonly found in heavily populated areas, dense forests, or very arid deserts. Emus are nomadic, often traveling considerable distances in search of food and water, with movements influenced by rainfall.
Emus are omnivorous, consuming a diverse diet that varies seasonally. Their plant-based diet includes fruits, seeds, flowers, new shoots, and grasses. They also consume insects and other invertebrates, such as caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, ants, spiders, and millipedes, which provide protein. Emus ingest small stones or pebbles to help grind food in their gizzards. They can endure weeks without eating, relying on stored fat reserves during periods of food scarcity.
Emu Behavior and Reproduction
Emus are primarily diurnal, active during daylight hours for foraging and preening. Though often solitary, they may form large, temporary flocks when migrating for food. Females produce a distinctive deep booming sound from an inflatable neck sac, which can be heard up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. When faced with threats, emus hiss, puff up feathers, and use their powerful legs to kick.
The emu breeding season typically occurs between May and June. Females may mate with multiple males and lay several clutches of eggs in a single season. The male emu takes on the primary role in reproduction, preparing a ground nest of trampled grass, leaves, and twigs. Females lay between 5 and 15 large, thick-shelled, dark green eggs.
After laying the eggs, the female often departs, leaving the male to incubate them. The male incubates the eggs for approximately 55 to 60 days, rarely eating or drinking during this time. Newly hatched chicks are cream-colored with distinctive brown stripes. The male continues to care for the chicks for five to seven months, teaching them how to find food and defending them. Young emus grow rapidly and can remain with their father until the next breeding season.