Nature Feature

The Emu

(Dromaius novaehollandiae).

The Emu's scientific name is derived from the Greek term 'Dromaius' (dromaios) meaning swift-footed and the Latin term 'Novaehollandiae' (N. L.) meaning of New Holland

Emu's are found throughout continental Australia, except in the more closely settled coastal areas where, once plentiful, they are now scarce or absent. They are extinct in Tasmania, King Island and Kangaroo island. Fossil records indicate that the birds which lived on the two smaller islands may have represented distinct species.

An Emu's wings are minute in comparison to the size of the bird. They are hidden beneath the hairy, loose plumage and have the sole function of acting as radiators in hot conditions when they are held out from the body and heat is lost from the blood vessels running under the skin.

The head and neck are almost naked (a similarity shared with the ostrich). The skin has a bluish tinge which varies throughout the year. Many farmers and pastoralists consider Emus to be pests, charging them with breaking fences and fouling pastures. They live in pairs or flocks, prefering grassy plains and open woodland.

During times of drought they suffer severely, since their usual food, 'green' grass and herbage is in short supply. During these periods, they migrate hundreds of kilometers in search of food, moving away from the arid regions and into cultivated areas where they will attack crops forcing the farmers to take protective measures.

The birds are omnivorous as caterpillars and grasshoppers are also eaten when they are abundant. The female utters drumming noises and the male makes guttural grumbling sounds. The breeding season is normally between April and November but can vary according to weather conditions.

The Emu builds its nest as a flat bed or platform , composed of trampled down grass or other herbage. Nests are frequently in the open and only slightly concealed. Each egg averages about 700 grams in weight. The eggs, usually about nine laid by one or two females, are dark green with a granulated surface.

At first the eggs are covered with leaves and left but when the clutch is complete, the male rarely leaves the nest. Incubation of the eggs takes approximately eight weeks. The male has sole charge of the nest and performs the tasks of incubating the eggs and raising the chicks alone. The brown striped and spotted chicks leave the nest when only a few days old, accompanied by their father.

Next to the Ostrich, the Emu is the largest of all birds (although cassowaries are often heavier). The sexes are almost identical, although males tend to be slightly larger, with longer bills and narrower necks. The chicks are grey, turning to dingy brown as juveniles.

Sources:
Neville W. Cayley's What Bird is That - 1931.
How Birds Live, Robert Burton, 1977.
Australia's Wilderness Heritage - Flora & Fauna, 1988.

The Emu is featured on Australia's Coat of Arms and on the following Australian coins: