Cassowary Facts

The cassowary is a unique-looking flightless bird native to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. And there are many fascinating things about them. So here are some of the most interesting cassowary facts.

It’s The Most Dangerous Bird On The Planet

The cassowary is considered to be the most dangerous bird in the world. It has a kick that can be lethal both to animals and humans. Cassowary feet have three toes and each is equipped with sharp claws. The claw of the inner- toe is long and dagger-like, and when the species feels threatened it will kick with these fierce weapons.

They Are Athletic Birds

The cassowary is surprisingly agile for such a large bird. It can actually jump close to 7 feet (2 meters) straight up into the air and run through thick jungle terrain at speeds of 30mph (50 km/h). In addition, the cassowary is also an excellent swimmer and can even swim in the sea.

The Cassowary Has A Helmet

The cassowary has a helmet-like casque on its head. The casque is covered in keratin, the same material your fingernails are made out of. All cassowary species and both male and female birds have a casque. However, females typically have a bigger casque than males. The exact function of the casque is unknown although some believe it may show a bird’s dominance, or even help them to make certain sounds.

The Cassowary Is Highly Secretive

Cassowaries are very shy and elusive creatures. They also live deep in the forest and are typically active at dusk and dawn. These factors make the cassowary an animal that is hard to study and observe in its natural habitat.

 The Cassowary Is A Frugivore

While cassowaries will sometimes feed on small animals, fungi, flowers, and carrion they are mainly frugivorous. This means that the majority of their diet is made up of various types of fruit.

One of the facts about cassowaries that many people don’t know is that their diet actually plays a vital role in the seed dispersal of many plant species. The seeds are spread throughout the forest when they are excreted in the cassowary’s waste.

The Female Birds Are Larger Than The Males

Similar to eagles and other birds of prey, the female cassowary is larger than the male. This is known as “reverse sexual dimorphism”.  Female cassowaries are also more brightly colored than males and have a bigger casque on their heads.

Their Plumage Works As Camouflage

The black-colored plumage of the cassowary actually functions as camouflage. Even though this is a very large bird, with the help of its black feathers it can be incredibly hard to spot in the shadows of the deep forest.

The Cassowary Is An Excellent Dad

One of the cassowary fun facts many people are surprised to learn is that different from most other types of birds, the male takes care of the young. It is the male cassowary that actually sits on the nest and incubates the eggs. Once hatched, he aggressively protects and takes care of the chicks for up to 16 months.

There Are Three Distinct Cassowary Species

The three species of cassowary are the southern cassowary, northern cassowary, and dwarf cassowary.  The southern cassowary is the most common and the largest of the three species and it’s the third tallest and second heaviest bird in the entire world.

The Cassowary Is A Flightless Bird

One of the most well-known cassowary facts is that it can’t fly. It belongs to the group of flightless birds known as ratites. This group includes other large cassowary-like birds such as the emu, ostrich, and rhea, along with the much smaller kiwi as well.

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