Ratites cannot fly
The cassowary is a large bird belonging to a group called the ratites. Ratites have a smooth sternum (breastbone) that lacks a place for flight muscles to attach. Therefore, ratites cannot fly. Other large birds in the ratite group are the ostrich, emu, and rhea. Another ratite is the much smaller kiwi.
Southern Cassowary
Scientific name: Casuarius casuarius
The southern cassowary is the largest and most common of the 3 living species of cassowaries. The other species are the northern cassowary and the dwarf cassowary. The southern cassowary is found in tropical rainforests of northeast Australia, New Guinea, and a few nearby islands.
The southern cassowary (left), northern cassowary (middle), and dwarf cassowary (right):
Cassowaries look great!
The southern cassowary is a spectacular bird with prehistoric vibes. At about 1.5-1.8 meters (5-6 feet) tall, this bird is one of the tallest in the world, behind the ostrich and the emu. The southern cassowary is the largest vertebrate animal in the rainforests of northern Australia.
Southern cassowaries sport glossy black feathers, powerful feet and legs, and a gorgeous blue neck and head, topped off with a large helmet called a casque. The casque is a bony structure covered with a layer of keratin, the same substance found in your hair and fingernails.
Scientists are still sorting out the use (or uses) of the casque. One recent hypothesis is that the casque may help keep cassowaries cool on hot days. The casque may also be used in the production of low frequency sounds for communication, for dominance displays, and for bashing through dense brush.
Cassowaries have a long, strong beak suited to feasting on forest fruits. While fruit is the main part of their diet, cassowaries are omnivores, and they sometimes eat lizards, invertebrates, eggs, grass, and seeds.
Cassowaries are rainforest gardeners
Cassowaries help forests grow. Cassowaries disperse fruit seeds in their poop as they move through the forest. They are the only animals able to eat and disperse some large fruits. Cassowary activity encourages new plants to grow and fill gaps in the forest.
Don’t mess with this dad
Cassowaries are usually solitary, meaning they live alone. Males and females have overlapping territories. After mating, female cassowaries lay large green or blue-green eggs on the forest floor in a nest of leaf litter prepared by the male. A typical clutch contains 3-8 eggs. The male incubates the eggs for about 50 days. Newborn chicks have stripes, which may aid in camouflage.
Male cassowaries raise the chicks. They will defend them against threats. Cassowaries have strong legs, and they can deliver a deadly kick with their dagger-like inner claw. They can also run fast, up to 50 km per hour (30 miles per hour), even through dense forest. So watch out!
After about 9 months, it’s time for young cassowaries to leave Dad and find their own place in the forest.
Cassowary Day
To celebrate these ecologically and culturally important birds, World Cassowary Day is held on 26 September each year. Threats to cassowaries include habitat loss, being hit by cars while crossing roads, and being hunted. If you live in or visit cassowary territory, it is important to give these birds space. Watch out for cassowaries on roads. Tell your grown-ups to drive slowly and carefully. Don’t approach cassowaries, and don’t feed them. For their safety and yours, cassowaries are best enjoyed at a distance.
More learning resources about cassowaries
Mongabay Kids: cassowary quiz
San Diego Zoo: cassowary profile
Australian Museum: southern cassowary profile
Queensland Government: southern cassowary fact page
Daintree Cassowaries: What’s special about cassowaries?
Mongabay: northern cassowary profile
Scientific American: How dangerous are cassowaries, really?
*Mongabay Kids is not responsible for content published on external sites
