Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus)

Other Names (World)
Northern Cassowary, One-wattled Cassowary, Single-wattled Cassowary

Family
Casuariidae (Cassowaries, Emus)

Size
120 - 150 cm

First Described (Guide)
Blyth, 1860

Habitat
Lowland forest, including swamp-forest. From sea-level - 700 m.

Range (Guide)

Indonesia (B), Papua New Guinea (B).

Northern New Guinea, and nearby Japen I and Salawati I.

Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.

Status LC
Hunting for food consumption and trade is the main threat.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Rarely seen. Its presence is indicated by large piles of droppings containing fruit stones and by it large three-toed footprints.

Food
Fruit.

Voice
A variety of booms and grunts.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (4)...)

Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) [XC498016]
by Iain Woxvold from near Malagufuk, Klasow Valley, Sorong, Papua Barat, Indonesia (call)

Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) [XC209609]
by Marc Anderson from Nimbokrang, Papua, Indonesia (call)

Subspecies
Four subspecies or more traditionally recognized, but good evidence for their validity lacking.

The following 4 subspecies are recognised:

unappendiculatus Blyth, 1860 - New Guinea.
occipitalis Salvadori, 1875 - New Guinea.
aurantiacus Rothschild, 1899 - New Guinea.
philipi (Rothschild, 1898) - New Guinea.

Similar Species
The upland Dwarf Cassowary (Casuarius bennetti) which is smaller, with a low casque and no wattle. The parapatric Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) has a higher casque and double wattle.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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