About Emu

(dro-MEH-us: ‘racer’ from Gk dromaios; no-veh-hol-LAN-di-eh: from New Holland, old name for Australia; Emu thought to have originated from Arabic for crane)

Northern subspecies - woodwardi

Where to see? No reliable locations to see in the coastal Top End.

1.5-2m (female larger). Largest of Australian birds, uncommon to rare in the coastal Top End, sometimes roaming northwards from its more favoured semi-arid inland habitat of grassland and low scrub.
Call-guttaral booming and thudding by female during breeding.
Where to see? No reliable locations to see in the coastal Top End.

Habitat

Typically semi-arid inland habitat of grassland and low scrub.

Diet

Diet-Insects, seed and fruit. 

Distribution

Occasionally seen in the Top End

Life Cycle

Breeding-Polyandric, male incubates 5-11 eggs and rears the stripy, downy chicks. Female has no involvement with incubation or caring for chicks.
Call-guttaral booming and thudding by female during breeding.