Emu
(Dromaius novaehollandiae): Australia is the home of two flightless
birds. One is the Cassowary, found only in the rainforests of Queensland’s
north coast. The main population is found in New Guinea. The Emu is endemic
and occurs over most of mainland Australia.
In company with the Kangaroo, the Emu appears on the Australian coat of arms.
It is a tall flightless bird reaching a height of two metres. The feathers
vary in colour from pale grey-brown to almost black. The legs are dark grey
and the skin of the head and neck is blue. In the breeding season the
female’s head and neck skin deepens in colour. Between 5-11 eggs are laid on
a scanty collection of vegetation on the ground. The
male sits on the eggs and cares for the young. This is a characteristic of
other large, flightless birds such as the South African Ostrich and the South
American Rhea.
There used to be distinct forms in Tasmania and King and Kangaroo Islands but
they are extinct.
Sorry about the photograph. The head is rather hard to
see but at least the colour of the neck is visible. The photograph was taken
at Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo. We will replace the photo as soon as we find
another Emu.