Emu vs Shoebill
Dromaius novaehollandiae compared with Balaeniceps rex
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Emu | Shoebill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dromaius novaehollandiae | Balaeniceps rex |
| Order | Casuariiformes | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Dromaiidae | Balaenicipitidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 175.0 cm (68.9 in) | 120.0 cm (47.2 in) |
| Wingspan | 20.0 cm (7.9 in) | 240.0 cm (94.5 in) |
| Weight | 45000.0 g (1587.33 oz) | 5500.0 g (194.01 oz) |
| Diet | Plants, seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects. Swallows large stones and charcoal to grind food in … | Primarily lungfish, also catfish, water snakes, monitor lizards, and baby crocodiles. Hunts by standing motionless, … |
| 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.
Shoebill
Freshwater swamps dominated by papyrus and other dense aquatic vegetation in tropical East Africa.
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.
Shoebill
Largely silent; produces mechanical bill-clattering 'clap-clap-clap' when greeting at the nest — similar to White Stork. Also gives low croaking grunts. Rarely calls in the wild.
Geographic Range & Migration
Emu
Throughout mainland Australia. Absent from Tasmania, where the Tasmanian emu was driven to extinction by 1850.
Shoebill
Central and East Africa from South Sudan and Ethiopia south to Zambia. Largest populations in South Sudan and Uganda.
Conservation Status
Emu
Shoebill
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
Shoebill
Blue-grey plumage overall with a slightly darker back and wings. Powder down gives a washed-out appearance. Small tuft on the back of the head.
Massive shoe-shaped bill, one of the largest of any bird — pale yellowish-grey with darker markings
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.
Shoebill
The shoebill is one of the most sought-after birds for birdwatchers visiting Africa, prized for its prehistoric appearance and massive bill. It can stand motionless for hours before collapsing forward to seize prey in its enormous bill. Despite standing over a meter tall, shoebills weigh relatively little due to their hollow bones.