SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dromaius novaehollandiae

Besides the ostrich, the emu is the largest bird in the world and the oldest existing bird. It’s flightless and can use its powerful legs to travel up to 30 mph. It will also use its legs for defense by kicking predators. An emu will live in small groups except during breeding season. A herd of several thousand emus grouped together is occasionally found in the wild. It will travel long distances in search of food and needs large amounts of water. An emu will also eat pebbles to help its stomach grind food.

Nesting for the emu is on the ground. Various females will lay a clutch of eight to 10 dark green eggs, weighing about 1.5 lb. each. They are incubated by the male for 52 to 60 days. During this time the male will not eat or drink but will live off his fat reserves. The male is very aggressive after the chicks hatch and will fight off the females or humans who come too close. He guards the chicks for five to seven weeks.

Farmers are not happy about emus because the large birds have been known to break fences and feed on crops (while also eating many insects). In 1932, an attempt was made to destroy the emu using machine guns. It was known as the “emu war”. Smaller species were exterminated by settlers on nearby islands, but Australian emus survived.

The emu has also served as a source of food, and it appears on the Australian coat of arms along with the kangaroo.