Southern Cassowary

Casuarius casuarius

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Aves · Casuariiformes · Casuariidae

About

The southern cassowary, also known as double-wattled cassowary, Australian cassowary, or two-wattled cassowary, is a large, flightless, mostly black bird, found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and northeastern Australia. It is one of the three living species of cassowary, alongside the dwarf cassowary and the northern cassowary. It is a ratite and therefore related to the emu, ostrich, rhea and kiwi.

Fun Fact

Southern cassowaries have a bony casque on their heads that may amplify their booming low-frequency calls through the dense rainforest — sounds so deep they're near the threshold of human hearing.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Tropical rainforests

Diet

Frugivore

Lifespan

18-20 years

Threats

Deforestation
Illegal Logging

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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