Information by Leah from Year 5B at Rochedale State School.

Click here for a page about Emus all the way from the USA, by Iris Kim

INTRODUCTION

The emu (dromaius novahollandiae) is regarded as a typical bird of Australia. The emu and kangaroo appear on the Australian Coat of Arms. Even though the emu is unable to fly, it can run at speeds up to 48 km/p. Emus are now full protected in some states. If cornered, the emu will kick out with its big three-toed feet. Emus mate for life. I like baby emus.

HABITAT

The emu is a bird that is found in open forests. The emu is also found in the savannahs and open grasslands. The emu lives in most habitats: arid mulga and spinifex, woodlands, eucalypt forests, alpine and coastal heaths, margins of wetlands and shores but not rainforests. Emus live in vast numbers in Western Australia and eat from the wheat fields. Emus are sociable outside the breeding season. The emu is a nomadic bird for most of the year. The emu can use its large legs for swimming across wide streams when needing to change its grasslands.

FEEDING

Emus feed on many things like lizards, small rodents, seeds, fruit and insects. The stomach of one emu killed in an extermination campaign was found to contain over 3 000 caterpillars. The emu is quite fussy, looking for food rich in nutrients such as seeds, fruit and young shoots. It avoids grass and old leaves, even if they are all that is available. The emu eats pebbles with its food to help its stomach grind up the food. Emus need large amounts of water, they squat down to their knee joints to reach the water.

CHARACTERISTICS

The emu grows up to 1.6 to 2m tall. The emu is covered in feathers and its colour is light brown. The emu has its wings hidden beneath the feathers. When it is hot, the emu holds out its wings away from its body to help it keep cool. The baby chicks are hatched from the eggs with dark brown to black stripes along the length of its body. Breeding female emus have deeper blue colouring on their head and neck. The eggs are brooded by the male emu who looks after the chicks for up to 18 months. The emu's eggs are dark green in colour.
 

INFORMATION AND INTERESTING HABITS

MATING: The mating season is during April to September. The female emu will lay up to 9 to 11 eggs. Incubation period is 56 days.

VOICE: Female: deep, resonant, thudding, booming. Male: Grunts and hisses. Babies: Plaintive high whistling or peeping sound.

Emus are the second largest of the world's flightless birds.
 

quiz Click here for some questions about the Emu.

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