Emu vs Southern Cassowary
Dromaius novaehollandiae compared with Casuarius casuarius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Emu | Southern Cassowary |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dromaius novaehollandiae | Casuarius casuarius |
| Order | Casuariiformes | Casuariiformes |
| Family | Dromaiidae | Casuariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 175.0 cm (68.9 in) | 155.0 cm (61.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 20.0 cm (7.9 in) | 60.2 cm (23.7 in) |
| Weight | 45000.0 g (1587.33 oz) | 58000.0 g (2045.89 oz) |
| Diet | Plants, seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects. Swallows large stones and charcoal to grind food in … | Primarily fallen fruit from the rainforest floor, also fungi, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. A critical … |
| Clutch Size | 5-24 | 3-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Emu
Open grasslands, savanna woodlands, scrublands, and semi-arid plains across Australia. Avoids dense forest and true desert.
Southern Cassowary
Tropical rainforests, mangroves, and adjacent habitat in New Guinea and northeastern Australia.
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.
Southern Cassowary
Produces very deep, booming rumbles and low-frequency calls below 20 Hz (infrasound), felt more than heard. Also gives loud bellowing grunts audible up to 1 km away.
Geographic Range & Migration
Emu
Throughout mainland Australia. Absent from Tasmania, where the Tasmanian emu was driven to extinction by 1850.
Southern Cassowary
New Guinea, nearby islands, and northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Conservation Status
Emu
Southern Cassowary
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
Southern Cassowary
Glossy black hair-like plumage. Brilliant blue and red bare skin on the head and neck. A large bony casque crowns the head. Vestigial wings with no flight feathers.
Long, laterally compressed, dark grey bill
Key Differences
- • Weight: Emu (45000g) vs Southern Cassowary (58000g)
- • Length: Emu (175 cm) vs Southern Cassowary (155 cm)
- • Wingspan: Emu (20 cm) vs Southern Cassowary (0 cm)
- • Family: Emu (Dromaiidae) vs Southern Cassowary (Casuariidae)
- • Habitat: Emu prefers Open grasslands, savanna woodlands, scrublands, and semi-ari; Southern Cassowary prefers Tropical rainforests, mangroves, and adjacent habitat in New
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.
Southern Cassowary
The southern cassowary is often called the most dangerous bird in the world due to its powerful legs and dagger-like inner claw that can reach 12 cm in length. Despite this reputation, cassowaries are vital rainforest keystone species, dispersing seeds of plants that no other animal can. The purpose of their distinctive casque remains debated.