The southern, or double-wattled, cassowary is one of three species of cassowary. Impressive and intimidating-looking, these flightless birds are often said to resemble dinosaurs. They are native to tropical rainforests of Australia and New Guinea, where they live solitary lives—but if necessary, they will defend their territory and chase away intruders with their powerful legs and sharp claws.  

They are skilled rainforest gardeners

Ever heard of poo-cycling? Cassowaries are experts at it, playing a vital ecological role as rainforest gardeners. The southern cassowary diet includes a wide range of fruits and seeds that they disperse through their droppings, which helps regenerate their forest habitat. Some seeds even need their digestive system to germinate properly.

Endangered and elusive

Spotting a southern cassowary in the wild is a rarity, as these creatures are notoriously secretive. They are solitary creatures and prefer to live in their own home ranges, which are between 0.52 and 2.35 square kilometres. Female territories often overlap with several males’ territories.

They are classified as Endangered due to habitat loss, fragmentation, vehicle strikes, and predation by introduced species like dogs and pigs.

Ladies living large

Female southern cassowaries are larger than their male counterparts, reaching heights of up to two metres and weighing up to 76 kilograms. This imposing mass makes them one of the heaviest bird species in the world, alongside other (hefty) feathered friends like the ostrich and the emu.

Creature features

Southern cassowaries have a very distinct aesthetic, complete with a range of cool accessories – it makes them look positively prehistoric! They are easily recognizable by their vivid blue neck, long drooping red wattles, coarse black hair-like feathers, and their prominent "helmet" or casque, which may act as a thermo-regulator to cool off in high heat and humidity, or help to amplify low-frequency calls in dense rainforest. It has a honeycomb-like structure inside to increase surface area, possibly for regulating temperature and sound.

They are #1 dads

The mating habits of the southern cassowary are a little unconventional – they don’t subscribe to traditional gender roles. In these communities, the father generally takes on child-rearing duties. After laying 3–5 large olive-green eggs, the female leaves and the male takes over, incubating the eggs for about 50 days and protecting the chicks until they are independent.

Not a picky eater

True to their role as rainforest gardeners, southern cassowaries are something of a natural compost system. They consume fallen fruits, fungi, snails, insects, and even small dead animals. Amazingly, their digestive system can handle seeds from up to 238 plant species, including fruits that are toxic to humans.

No-fly list

As well as being large in size and possessing powerful legs, southern cassowaries are flightless because their wing bones are small and underdeveloped. Instead of flight, their physical build is adapted for navigating dense rainforests – strong legs for running and jumping, and their streamlined body and feathers, with a relatively small and narrow head to help them push through thick vegetation.