The common emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is stout-bodied and long-legged, like its relative the cassowary. Emus can dash away at nearly 50 km (30 miles) per hour; if cornered, they kick with their big three-toed feet. Emus mate for life; the male incubates 7 to 10 dark green eggs, 13 cm (5 inches) long, in a ground nest for about 60 days.
- They stand about 25 centimeters tall and have distinctive brown and cream stripes for camouflage, which fade after three months or so.
- While migrating in search of food, large groups of Emus sometimes come together to form massive flocks.
- They travel long distances to exploit seasonal food resources and play a role in seed dispersal.
- In more recent times, the birds have been adopted as an icon in Australia, and they have been featured on many different products and organizations.
- They also eat insects, especially during the breeding season when their protein needs are higher.
- The resultant heat is prevented from flowing to the skin by the insulation provided by the coat (Maloney and Dawson 1995), allowing the bird to be active during the heat of the day.
Commercially, emus are farmed for their meat, oil, and leather, and they also provide economic value by eating insects that are agricultural pests. A newly hatched Emu weighs about 500 grams and is small enough to fit in your cupped hand. But emu chicks have an impressive growth rate, increasing their body weight nearly 80 times in the first 18 months of life. An emu chick’s body is covered with downy black and white striped feathers arranged in a squiggly pattern. This colouration helps break up the outline of the chick’s body, camouflaging it from predators.
- This even led to an “Emu War” between the Australian military and the native Emu populations!
- Emus mate for life; the male incubates 7 to 10 dark green eggs, 13 cm (5 inches) long, in a ground nest for about 60 days.
- The emu subspecies that previously inhabited Tasmania became extinct after the European settlement of Australia in 1788.
This article explores the fascinating world of the emu, from its evolutionary history to its behavior, diet, and conservation status. As we delve into the life of this majestic bird, we uncover the secrets behind its survival in diverse and often harsh Australian landscapes. Their calls consist of loud booming, drumming, and grunting sounds that can be heard up to two kilometers away.
Emu Predators and Threats What Kills Emus?
The emu, being a flightless bird known as a ratite, lacks an extension to its sternum (breastbone) called a keel on which flight muscles are usually anchored. Interestingly, although it is flightless and lacks a keel, it still has tiny 20cm long vestigial wings. The emu manipulates these tiny wings while running to control its balance and direction. For example, when changing direction rapidly, the emu points one wing up and the other down, almost like a child “playing airplane”. She lays her eggs in the nest the male has built, and then she leaves. While migrating in search of food, large groups of Emus sometimes come together to form massive flocks.
Emus have brown to gray-brown, soft-feathered plumage of shaggy appearance. A unique feature of the emu feather is its double rachis emerging from a single shaft. Solar radiation is absorbed by the tips, and the loose-packed inner plumage insulates the skin. The resultant heat is prevented from flowing to the skin by the insulation provided by the coat (Maloney and Dawson 1995), allowing the bird to be active during the heat of the day.
Emu Running
In fact, they are especially fond of farms because they usually have plenty of water for the birds to drink. In fact, the only bird that is taller is their relative, the ostrich. Despite their similarity to the ostrich, Emus are actually more closely related to cassowaries.
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The Emu was an important source of meat to the Aborigines in the areas to which it was endemic. Emu fat was used as bush medicine, and was foreign stocks markets rubbed on the skin. It was mixed with ochre to make the traditional paint for ceremonial body adornment, as well as to oil wooden tools and utensils such as the coolamon (Samemory 2008).
While he is incubating, his metabolism rate drops, and he may lose as much as 8 kgs in weight. The emu has two long, thin legs, each ending in three large toes with prominent toenails. The undersides of the toes contain flat pads that enable the birds to grip surfaces firmly while running or jumping. An emu can jump to a height of almost two meters, run up to 50kmh (30mph), and travel long distances at this speed without tiring. As a member of the ratites, they’re part of an ancient lineage that once included elephant birds like the 630kg Vorombe titan. The emu is a large flightless bird species that is native to Australia, and is the only living member left of its genus.
They are human fearless birds and have been known to approach small groups of humans and help themselves to any food on offer. Emus are the only birds with gastrocnemius muscles (the same as human calf muscles) in the back of the lower legs. Emus have soft, slender beaks about 6 cm long, perfectly designed for snatching up insects and tiny seeds. Each emu also sports a distinctive hairstyle, giving it a one-of-a-kind look. While farmers do selectively breed their birds for the best meat production and easy handling, they have not undergone selection for a long enough period for people to consider them domesticated. They live in loose flocks that move according to rainfall and food availability, covering large distances each year.
They are highly adaptable and can live in various environments, including forests, savannas, grasslands, and desert areas. Their distribution is widespread, but they tend to avoid densely populated areas, dense forests, and arid deserts. The Emu is the second largest bird in the world, the largest being the similar looking, Ostrich.
Relationship with humans
In Australia, the commercial industry is based on stock bred in captivity and all states except Tasmania have licensing requirements to protect wild emus. Emus breed well in captivity, and are kept in large open pens to avoid leg and digestive problems that arise with inactivity. They are typically fed on grain supplemented by grazing, and are slaughtered at 50–70 weeks of age.
Historically, Australian aboriginals hunted these birds as a source of food for decades. This species lives primarily in open regions where they can spot potential predators from afar. They also prefer regions with easy access to water, so they avoid deserts and desert edges. Their favorite habitats are grasslands, savannas, open subtropical forest, and more.
Habitat of the Emu
Emus weigh between 30 and 60 kilograms (66–132 pounds) (Ivory 1999). For the next 8 weeks after the eggs have been laid, the male will sit on the nest, carefully turning the eggs around 10 times each day. An average egg can measure 5 inches long and 3 inches wide and weigh up to 900 grams. The female emu lays her eggs (on average 11 eggs) which are large, thick-shelled and green in color and then leaves the male emu to do the brooding. The female emu will mate with other males and will produce multiple clutches of eggs. Emus are quite vocal birds and their vocalizations include a loud booming noise which is created by an inflatable neck sac that has a thin wall and is around 12 inches (30 centimetres) long.
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As long-legged, flightless birds, you’d expect emus to be fast. These are accomplished walkers and runners and cover vast distances bipedally. Emus forage throughout the day, walking long distances to find food. They use their strong legs and sharp claws to dig into the soil for edible roots and to uncover insects. Their ability to consume a wide range of food items helps them to survive in different environments and under varying conditions. Emus are native to Australia and are found in a range of habitats across the mainland, from coastal regions to arid inland areas.
