Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Other Names (World)
Common Emu, Emu, Larger Emu, Spotted Emu

Family
Casuariidae (Cassowaries, Emus)

Size
150 - 200 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Latham, 1790)

Derivation
Drom-ai'-us - Gk, dromaius, swift-footed: novaehollandiae - N.L., of New Holland

Abundance (Guide)
LA

Locally abundant.

Habitat
Plains, scrublands, open woodlands, coastal heaths, alpine pastures, semi-deserts, margins of lakes. Pastoral and cereal-growing areas.

Range (Guide)

Australia (B).

Australia. Introduced to Kangaroo I and Maria I (both off southern Australia).

Continental Australia generally, except the more densely settled areas. Extinct in Tasmania.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 630,000 - 725,000 (2010).

Status LC
Secure.

See also EPBC Act List of Threatened Fauna for subspecies diemenensis (Tasmania - extinct).

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
They are omnivorous, eating grasses, leaves, fruits and flowers of native plants as well as insects.

Voice
Deep gutteral grunts made by both sexes. Female emits dull, resonant booming sound. Young give plaintive, high whistling or peeping sounds.

(44Kb) © ? (1)

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (17)...)

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) [XC233818]
by Marc Anderson from The Pilliga, New South Wales, Australia (call)

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) [XC287027]
by Pieter de Groot Boersma from Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia (call)

Breeding Season (Guide)
March - November but usually April - October.

Nest
Trampled bed of grass, bark or leaves, in a scrape on the ground often near a tree or bush.

Eggs (Guide)
5 - 20 but usually 7 - 11; dark-green with granular surface; ellipsoidal; about 130 - 140 x 90 mm. Incubation: about 60 days; by male.

Young
Only the male broods, escorting the family group for upto 18 months.

Subspecies
Formerly four subspecies, nominate novaehollandiae, mainland Australia, woodwardi, rothschildi, and diemenensis, Tasmania - extinct.

Dromaius novaehollandiae (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), King Island Emu (Dromaius minor) and Kangaroo Island Emu (Dromaius baudinianus) following Christidis and Boles (1994).

The following 4 subspecies are recognised:

novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790) - Australia.
diemenensis ! Le Souef, 1907 - Formerly Tasmania. Extinct ca 1865.
minor ! Spencer, 1906 - Formerly King I. (Australia). Extinct; last reported 1850. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, King Island Emu (Dromaius minor).
baudinianus ! Parker, SA, 1984 - Formerly Kangaroo Island (South Australia). Extinct. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Kangaroo Island Emu (Dromaius baudinianus).

Similar Species
Ostrich (Struthio camelus).

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References
See References.

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9

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