1

Southern Cassowary

(Casuarius casuarius)
: "Double-wattled Cassowary", "Australian Cassowary"
Size: 1.5-1.75 m
Weight: 29-34 kg (male), 58 kg (female)

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species Click here for a physical description

Southern Cassowaries are massive, flightless birds with very strong legs and long necks. Their plumage looks stringy and is black from the base of the neck downwards. The small heads have bony casques ("helmets"). Their heads and necks are bald, with blue-red skin and long crimson or red wattles. There are small differences between the two sexes. male Southern Cassowaries have smaller casques and less conspicuous colours of the wattled skin compared with females. Males also have smaller feet. Juvenile Southern Cassowaries have a grey-brown plumage and orange-rufous skin on head and neck. Their wattles are inconspicuous and the casque is still absent. Chicks have a bold brown-white striped pattern and a orange-rufous head and neck.

Taxonomy, classification

See Southern Cassowary at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org .
The global distribution of the Southern Cassorary is available HERE .

The range of Southern Cassowaries, race "johnsonii", in Australia is limited to parts of the East coast of Cape York peninsula in far-northern QLD and the tablelands stretching to the North and South of Atherton.

Southern Cassowaries are found in tropical rainforest, usually along stream banks and in clearings.

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Race "johnsonii"

S. Hardy and D. Johnston report spotting a family of Southern Cassowaries, race "johnsonii", between Daintree and Port Douglas, North QLD, in August 2013.

D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Southern Cassowary, race "johnsonii", in Daintree NP, QLD, in March 2015.

Photos

Race "johnsonii"

ADULT

MALE

Near-frontal portrait of a male Southern Cassowary (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Daintree NP, QLD, March 2015]

Near-frontal view of a male Southern Cassowary (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Daintree NP, QLD, March 2015]

Lateral view of a male Southern Cassowary (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Daintree NP, QLD, March 2015]

Frontal view of an adult male Southern Cassowary in captivity

FEMALE

Frontal view of an adult female Southern Cassowary in captivity (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)

Near-frontal view of an adult female Southern Cassowary in captivity (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Male Southern Cassowary with three chicks crossing a road (photo courtesy of S. Hardy & D. Johnston)
[Daintree to Port Douglas road, QLD, August 2013]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jun - Oct Eggs: 2 - 5 Incubation period: 60 days Fledging age: N/A

Eggs are incubated by the male.

Nest
"bungobittah", "malunna" = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Scrape Material: Leaf lining Height above ground: N/A

Eggs
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 140 x 90 mm Colour: Greenish brown Shape: Elliptical

Southern Cassowary eggs have a structured surface.

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Solitary

Pairs, or later family clans, form only during the breeding season.

Food, Diet

Southern Cassowaries are fruit-eaters.

Aust birds Bird names News 1-26 Habitats Key plants Glossary Plumage Nests Tips Thumbnails Gen. info Sponsors Photos for sale
NON-PASSERINES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14	15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 PASSERINES
Common names sorted alphabetically: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T W Y