Emu vs Golden Eagle
Dromaius novaehollandiae compared with Aquila chrysaetos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Emu | Golden Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dromaius novaehollandiae | Aquila chrysaetos |
| Order | Casuariiformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Dromaiidae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 175.0 cm (68.9 in) | 81.0 cm (31.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 20.0 cm (7.9 in) | 212.0 cm (83.5 in) |
| Weight | 45000.0 g (1587.33 oz) | 4050.0 g (142.86 oz) |
| Diet | Plants, seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects. Swallows large stones and charcoal to grind food in … | Mammals including rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and marmots. Also takes birds, reptiles, and carrion. Hunts … |
| Clutch Size | 5-24 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Emu
Open grasslands, savanna woodlands, scrublands, and semi-arid plains across Australia. Avoids dense forest and true desert.
Golden Eagle
Open and semi-open country including mountains, hills, and tundra. Prefers areas with cliffs or large trees for nesting and open terrain for hunting.
Song & Call Comparison
Emu
Deep, resonant booming grunt 'e-moo', often repeated 3 times. Females give a deep drumming call produced by an inflatable throat pouch. Generally low-pitched and far-carrying.
Golden Eagle
Mostly silent; emits a thin, high-pitched whistle 'kee-kee-kee' near the eyrie. Also gives low barking 'yak-yak' and mewing calls. Far less vocal than its size suggests.
Geographic Range & Migration
Emu
Throughout mainland Australia. Absent from Tasmania, where the Tasmanian emu was driven to extinction by 1850.
Golden Eagle
Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The most widely distributed eagle species.
Conservation Status
Emu
Golden Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Emu
Shaggy grey-brown plumage with double-shafted feathers giving a loose, hair-like appearance. Bare blue skin on the face and neck.
Broad, flat, dark grey bill
Golden Eagle
Dark brown overall with a golden-bronze sheen on the nape and crown. Juveniles show distinct white patches at the base of the tail and in the wings.
Dark horn-colored hooked bill with a yellow cere
About These Birds
Emu
The emu is the second-tallest living bird and the largest bird native to Australia. It is the only bird with calf muscles, enabling powerful running at up to 50 km/h. In the famous Emu War of 1932, the Australian military was deployed against crop-raiding emus — and the emus arguably won.
Golden Eagle
The golden eagle is one of the most powerful and agile raptors in the Northern Hemisphere. Revered by many cultures, it has been used in falconry for centuries, particularly by Kazakh eagle hunters of Central Asia. Golden eagles can dive at speeds exceeding 240 km/h when pursuing prey.