Casuarius casuarius
The Southern Cassowary is a striking, flightless bird with a tall, helmet-like casque atop its head. Its body is covered in glossy black feathers, with a vibrant blue neck, face, and two red wattles hanging from its throat. The bird stands up to 2 meters tall.
Females are typically larger than males, with a taller casque. Both sexes have powerful legs with dagger-like claws and small vestigial wings. Juveniles have brown plumage, gradually developing adult colouration as they mature.
Length
127cm to 170cm
Wingspan
150cm to 200cm
Weight
29kg to 58.5kg
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Black Blue
Secondary Colour
Red
Beak Colour
Grey
Leg Colour
Grey
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Southern Cassowaries are found in the tropical rainforests of northeastern Australia, particularly in Queensland's Wet Tropics region. They also inhabit parts of New Guinea and nearby islands. These birds prefer dense, humid forests with a diverse array of fruit-bearing trees.
While their range has contracted due to deforestation, they can occasionally be spotted in more open woodlands or even beaches adjacent to their rainforest habitats, especially when searching for food.
Sea level to 1,400 meters
Tropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Southern Cassowary. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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