Emu Bird– The emu bird is the second largest bird in the world after its ratite relative the ostrich. The emu is a native bird found in Australia. Emu birds are capable of covering very long distances and are also capable of running at a speed of 48 km/hour. These giant-bodied birds arrange their food by hunting many types of plants and insects, it has also been found that they are capable of surviving without eating for many days. According to scientific research, emu birds drink water only occasionally, but if they get water, they can drink as much water as they can.
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Scientific Name and Information of The Emu Bird
- Kingdom- Animalia
- Phylum- Chordata
- Sub Phylum- Vertebrata
- Class- Aves
- Order- Casuariiformes
- Family- Casuariidae
- Genus- Dromaius
- Species- Dromaius novaehollandiae
Description of The Emu Birds
According to the report, Australia is the only place where emu birds are found and they are found living in almost the entire Australian continent. But the report also states that the number of emu birds is decreasing towards the centre of Australia and around the eastern coast. Talking about their habitat, emu birds live in grasslands, dry forests, wild savannas and semi-desert areas. These birds do not live in the northeastern tropical forests of Australia, they prefer to live in grasslands.
Geographic Details of Emu Birds
| Continents | Oceania |
| Sub Continents | Australia |
| Countries | Australasian |
Body Structure of The Emu Bird
Emu (Dromius novaehollandiae) is a flightless bird found in Australia. Its body structure is as follows:
- Size and Appearance
- Emu is more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) long, which makes this bird the second largest bird after the ostrich.
- This emu bird can weigh more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds).
- The body of the emu bird is brown and its head and neck are dark brown.
- Adaptation for Speed
- Emu has a soft and pointed beak which is suitable for grazing and other food.
- Its eyes can be large and dark brown to black.
- They have two short wings that are generally much shorter than their bodies
- Emu birds have two powerful legs that enable them to run at speeds of up to 30 miles (50 kilometers) per hour.
Habit and Nutrition of The Emu Bird
The Emu (Dromaeus novaehollandiae), the second largest bird in the world, found in Australia, is certainly a unique bird with very unique habits and lifestyle:
01. Solitary Behaviour :
- Although emu birds generally prefer to live alone, they also show social behaviour when they need companions. They also share their nests and reportedly migrate several miles together in large groups in search of food.
- The report also states that emu birds do not migrate or are nomadic during the incubation period. This is what identifies them as a unique bird.
02. Daily Routine of The Emu Birds
- Emus are generally diurnal in nature, meaning these birds are active only during the daytime.
- The activity of these birds decreases after dusk as they start preparing for sleep early in the night.
Diet and Nutrition of The Emu Bird
The emu bird (Dromaeus novaehollandiae) is an omnivorous bird and its diet is not just one or two but of various types. The diet of the emu bird is as follows:
01. Insects and Arthropods:
- When the breeding season arrives, these birds require large amounts of protein, so during this time emus start looking for insects because insects contain abundant amounts of protein.
- These birds also catch a variety of non-poisonous insects and make their food. These include insects like cockroaches, ants, beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars etc.
- Apart from this, these emu birds also consume arthropods like spiders, centipedes and millipedes.
02. Some Plants
- Emu mainly uses various types of leaves, flowers, seeds and fruits as their food, from which their body gets many nutrients.
- According to the report, Emu birds eat plants like Acacia and Casuarina, which are an important part of their diet.
- Their plant preferences vary with season and region; these birds feed on about 43 different plant species.
03. Nomadic behaviour
- These Australian emus are nomadic in their area and often wait for several days for rain in search of food and water.
- During times of food shortage (usually due to drought) these birds may migrate, sometimes hundreds of kilometres, in search of abundant food.
- Due to drought and lack of food, emus can lose up to 50 percent of their weight and sometimes they may have to remain hungry for weeks.
Dieting Habits-Omnivore, Carnivore, Frugivore, Granivore, Coprophage, Herbivore, Insectivores, Lignivore
Life Span of The Emu Bird
- In the Wild- An emu can typically live from 10 to 20 years. They can live up to 10 to 20 years in Australia, roaming freely either as a solitary bird or as part of a large flock in search of food and water.
- In Captivity– If emus get a safe and protected environment, their average lifespan can increase to 35 years. A domesticated female emu is capable of laying eggs for up to 16 years. Whereas in unprotected and uncared for emus, the time of laying eggs is reduced considerably.
Reference – Wikipedia