# Emu (*Dromaius novaehollandiae*) The Emu is a big, flightless bird from Australia. They have long legs and can run really fast, making them great at escaping danger! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Woodlands and grasslands ![Emu](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424431/objects/4654.jpg) ## Appearance The Emu is Australia's largest bird, covered in shaggy, brown-grey feathers that offer camouflage. It has a long, pale blue neck and a small head, distinctly different from its large, powerful body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Casuariiformes - **Family:** Dromaiidae - **Genus:** Dromaius ## Interesting facts - Emu fathers do all the egg incubation and chick rearing alone! - Emu legs have three large, forward-pointing toes, designed for fast running. - They can make loud booming sounds that travel far across the Australian outback. - They swallow smooth stones to help grind their tough food inside their stomach. ## Special abilities - **Speed Demon:** Emu can run up to 50 km/h because of their powerful legs that help them escape predators rapidly. - **Kickboxer:** Emu can deliver a powerful defensive kick because of their strong legs and three-toed feet, protecting them from danger. - **Water Wanderer:** Emu has strong legs that help them swim across rivers and waterholes to find new food and habitats. - **Food Finder:** Emu has excellent eyesight that helps them spot small seeds, fruits, and insects from afar in open landscapes. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-190 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-30 cm - **Weight:** 18-60 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-15 - **Incubation:** 48-56 days ## Diet & Feeding Emus are omnivores, munching on a mix of plants like seeds and fruits, plus insects and tiny critters. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Seeds, Fruits, Flowers, Insects, Small lizards - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Wedge-tailed Eagle (*Aquila audax*) — Juvenile Emus can be vulnerable to attacks from large eagles. - **Eats:** Golden Wattle (*Acacia pycnantha*) — Emus disperse seeds after eating the fruits and flowers of wattles. - **Eats:** [Johnson Grass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/johnson-grass) (*Sorghum halepense*) — Emus graze on the seeds and shoots of various wild grasses. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Emu? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Emu? 150-190 cm ### What is Emu's wingspan? 20-30 cm ### How much does Emu weigh? 18-60 kg ### How long does Emu live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Emu move? 50 km/h ### What does Emu eat? Emus are omnivores, munching on a mix of plants like seeds and fruits, plus insects and tiny critters. ### Where is Emu usually found? Woodlands and grasslands ## Where to spot - [Alexandria Zoological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alexandria-zoological-park) — Louisiana, US · Zoo - [Long Island Game Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-island-game-farm) — New York, US · Zoo - [Peoria Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peoria-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [Fresno Chaffee Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fresno-chaffee-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Hattiesburg Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hattiesburg-zoo) — Mississippi, US · Zoo - [Sierra Safari Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sierra-safari-zoo) — Nevada, US · Zoo [View all places to see Emu](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/emu) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Emu: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/emu)