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Southern Cassowary

(Casuarius casuarius)
Alternative names: "Double-wattled Cassowary", "Australian Cassowary"
Size: 1.5-1.75 m
Weight: 29-34 kg (male), 58 kg (female)
SUBSECTIONS:      Classification      Distribution      Sightings      Photos      Breeding      Nest      Eggs      Behaviour      Food     

Taxonomy, classification

See Southern Cassowary at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

(for details refer to a field guide)

The range of Southern Cassowaries, race "johnsonii", is limited to parts of the east coast of Cape York peninsula in far-north 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

We have not spotted Southern Cassowaries out in the wild yet. The ones shown below were kept in captivity.

Photos

Race "johnsonii"

Frontal view of an adult Southern Cassowary in captivity

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

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", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]

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

Southern Cassowary eggs have a structured surface.

Food, Diet

Southern Cassowaries are fruit-eaters.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.