Southern Cassowary

The southern cassowary is one of the world’s most impressive birds, native to the tropical rainforests of northern Queensland, Papua New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. Though it cannot fly, this large, flightless bird is built for life on the forest floor, moving silently through dense vegetation with ease.

Cassowaries have glossy black feathers, a tall, horn-like casque on top of their head, and striking bright blue and purple skin on their neck and face. Two red wattles hang from their throat, adding to their prehistoric appearance. The casque is thought to help them push through thick rainforest plants or may play a role in amplifying their deep, booming calls.

As one of the heaviest birds in the world, the southern cassowary can reach up to two metres tall and weigh over 60 kilograms. Despite their size, they are fast and agile, capable of running up to 50 kilometres per hour and jumping as high as 1.5 metres. Their powerful legs are equipped with sharp claws, including an inner toe claw that can reach up to 10 cm — making them potentially dangerous if threatened.

Cassowaries are solitary and shy by nature but will defend themselves if cornered. They are vital to their ecosystem as rainforest gardeners, consuming a wide variety of fruits and dispersing seeds over large distances through their droppings, sometimes even seeds that are toxic to other species.

The role of caregiver is taken up by males within a breeding pair. After the female lays her eggs, she leaves, and the male incubates the eggs for around 50 days, then cares for the chicks for up to a year.

Southern cassowaries are listed as endangered in Australia due to habitat loss, vehicle strikes, and dog attacks. Conservation efforts focus on protecting rainforest corridors and raising public awareness of their ecological importance.

Southern cassowaries are surprisingly strong swimmers. They can cross wide rivers and even swim in the ocean, using their powerful legs to paddle through the water — an impressive ability for a bird that can't fly!