# Southern Cassowary (*Casuarius casuarius*) The Southern Cassowary is a large, flightless bird with a colorful neck and a helmet-like crest! They are known for their speed and can run very fast. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Epic - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Tropical rainforests - **Also known as:** Cassowary ![Southern Cassowary](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425975/objects/4652.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Cassowary is a very large, flightless bird with glossy black feathers. It has a tall, bony casque on its head, and bright blue and red skin on its neck and wattle, making it unmistakable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Casuariiformes - **Family:** Casuariidae - **Genus:** Casuarius ## Interesting facts - A male cassowary alone cares for its chicks, from incubation to raising them! - Cassowaries can swim surprisingly well, crossing rivers and even sea channels. - Their casque might help them hear low-frequency sounds better. - They swallow large fruits whole, digesting the pulp and dispersing seeds. ## Special abilities - **Helmet-Head:** Southern Cassowary has a bony casque on its head that helps them push through dense forest and protect their skull. - **Jungle Gardener:** Southern Cassowary can spread plant seeds widely by eating fruits, helping new trees grow in the rainforest. - **Booming Voice:** Southern Cassowary can make very low-frequency booming calls, helping them communicate over long distances in thick forest. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 127-170 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-25 cm - **Weight:** 34-76 kg - **Lifespan:** 18-40 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 49-56 days ## Diet & Feeding They mostly feast on fruits that fall to the forest floor, helping many rainforest plants. - **Primary Foods:** Fallen fruits, Fungi, Small insects, Snails, Small vertebrates, Plant shoots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Blue Quandong (*Elaeocarpus grandis*) — Its fruits are a favorite food, spreading seeds. - **Eaten by:** Pink Satinash (*Syzygium tierneyanum*) — Aids in the dispersal of this rainforest tree's seeds. - **Eaten by:** Amethystine Python (*Morelia amethistina*) — Large pythons might target eggs or small chicks. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [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 Southern Cassowary? 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 Southern Cassowary? 127-170 cm ### What is Southern Cassowary's wingspan? 20-25 cm ### How much does Southern Cassowary weigh? 34-76 kg ### How long does Southern Cassowary live? 18-40 years ### How fast can Southern Cassowary move? 50 km/h ### What does Southern Cassowary eat? They mostly feast on fruits that fall to the forest floor, helping many rainforest plants. ### Where is Southern Cassowary usually found? Tropical rainforests ## Where to spot - [Denver Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/denver-zoo) — Colorado, US · Zoo - [Blank Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blank-park-zoo) — Iowa, US · Zoo - [San Francisco Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-francisco-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/st-augustine-alligator-farm-zoological-park) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Jungle Island](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jungle-island) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Tierpark Irgenöd](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-irgenoed) — Bayern, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Southern Cassowary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-cassowary) ## 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: [Southern Cassowary: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-cassowary)