Southern Cassowary
Image: Philip Griffin (cc-by-nc)
NameSouthern Cassowary
Common NameSouthern Cassowary
Scientific NameCasuarius casuarius
FamilyCasuariidae
Wingspan (cm)20
Length (cm)150
Weight (g)45000
Plumage DetailsCoarse, stiff, black plumage covers the body. The head and neck are largely featherless, displaying brilliant blue, purple, red, and orange skin. A prominent bony casque sits atop the head, and two red wattles hang from the throat. Wings are vestigial.
Vocalization / CallProduces deep booming calls, hisses, and rumbles. They are also known to use low-frequency sounds (infrasound) for long-distance communication through dense forest.
Primary Dietfrugivore
Primary Habitatstropical rainforest, dense forest
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeNative to northeastern Australia (Queensland), New Guinea, and surrounding smaller islands.
Identifying Featureslarge bony casque on head, brightly colored blue and red neck and face with red wattles, coarse black plumage, three-toed feet with a dagger-like claw on the inner toe, flightless
Description
A very large, flightless bird known for its distinctive bony casque on its head and vibrant blue and red skin on its neck and face. Its body is covered in coarse, black plumage, and it is a shy, solitary inhabitant of dense rainforests.
