The Emu is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of thegenus Dromauis. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich.
There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia. The Emu is common over
most of mainland Australia, although it avoids heavily populated areas,
dense forest, and arid areas.
The soft-feathered, brown, flightless birds
reach up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. They have long thin necks and
legs. Emus can travel great distances at a fast, economical trot and, if
necessary, can sprint at 70 km/h (43 mph) for some distance at a time. Their long legs allow them to take strides of up to 275 centimetres (9.02 ft)
They are opportunistically nomadic and may travel long distances to
find food; they feed on a variety of plants and insects, but have been
known to go for weeks without food. Emus ingest stones, glass shards and
bits of metal to grind food in the digestive system. They drink
infrequently, but take in copious fluids when the opportunity arises.
Emus will sit in water and are also able to swim. They are curious birds
who are known to follow and watch other animals and humans. Emus do not
sleep continuously at night but in several short stints sitting down.
Emus use their strongly clawed feet as a defence mechanism. Their
legs are among the strongest of any animals, allowing them to rip metal
wire fences. They are endowed with good eyesight and hearing, which
allows them to detect predators in the vicinity. The plumage varies
regionally, matching the surrounding environment and improving its
camouflage. The feather structure prevents heat from flowing into the
skin, permitting Emus to be active during the midday heat. They can
tolerate a wide range of temperatures and thermoregulate
effectively. Males and females are hard to distinguish visually, but
can be differentiated by the types of loud sounds they emit by
manipulating an inflatable neck sac. Emus breed in May and June and are
not monogamous; fighting among females for a mate is common. Females can
mate several times and lay several batches of eggs in one season. The
animals put on weight before the breeding season, and the male does most
of the incubation, losing significant weight during this time as he
does not eat. The eggs hatch after around eight weeks, and the young are
nurtured by their fathers. They reach full size after around six
months, but can remain with their family until the next breeding season
half a year later. Emus can live between 10 and 20 years in the wild and
are predated by dingos, eagles and hawks. They can jump and kick to
avoid dingos, but against eagles and hawks, they can only run and
swerv
