Southern Cassowary

The Southern Cassowary is a massive flightless bird of the tropical rainforests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia, instantly recognizable by its coarse black plumage, vividly colored blue and red neck and head skin, and a tall, helmet-like keratin casque on its crown. Two fleshy red wattles hang from the throat, giving it the alternate name Double-wattled Cassowary.

Despite its striking appearance, the Cassowary is a shy, solitary forest dweller rarely seen in the open, and it plays a critical ecological role dispersing the seeds of many rainforest fruit trees.

Key Field Marks

• Tall bony casque on top of the head
• Vivid blue face and neck with red patches and two hanging red wattles
• Coarse, glossy black body plumage
• Powerful legs with a sharp, dagger-like inner toe claw
• Bare blue neck skin visible even at a distance

Similar Species

• The Emu lacks a casque and colorful neck skin, has grayish-brown plumage, and inhabits open country rather than rainforest
• The Northern and Dwarf Cassowaries are smaller and have different casque shapes and wattle patterns, and occur only in New Guinea, not Australia

Range

Tropical rainforests of New Guinea, nearby islands, and the far northeastern tip of Queensland, Australia (Cape York Peninsula and the Wet Tropics near Cairns).

Habitat

Dense lowland and montane tropical rainforest, also using adjacent mangroves, swamp forest, and forest edges near fruiting trees.

Migration

Non-migratory and territorial, maintaining a stable home range within continuous forest.

Behavior

Solitary and elusive, moving quietly through dense understory; can deliver a powerful, potentially dangerous kick with its clawed feet when threatened or cornered, particularly if approached too closely or fed by humans.

Voice

Produces a very low-frequency booming or rumbling call, among the lowest-pitched of any bird, which carries well through dense forest; also hisses and grunts.

Feeding

Primarily frugivorous, swallowing whole fallen fruit from a wide range of rainforest trees and playing a key role as a seed disperser for large-seeded species few other animals can process.

Nesting & Breeding

As in Emus, the male alone builds the ground nest, incubates the eggs for about 50 days, and raises the striped chicks after the female departs to find other mates.