# Emu (*Dromaius novaehollandiae*)

> The emu is a large flightless bird native to Australia, second only to the ostrich in height among living birds. It stands up to 1.9 m tall, weighs around 40 kg, and roams grassland, woodland, and scrub as an omnivore. Emus can run at up to 50 km/h on their powerful legs and typically live 10 to 20 years. The species is listed as Least Concern.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Mainland Australia except dense rainforest — grasslands, woodland, and desert margins.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/emu/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Casuariiformes
- **Family:** Casuariidae
- **Genus:** Dromaius

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Dromaius novaehollandiae |
| Diet | Omnivore — plants, seeds, insects, and fruit |
| Habitat | Australian grasslands, woodland, and scrub |
| Lifespan | 10–20 years in the wild |
| Weight | 30–45 kg (66–99 lb); males slightly smaller |
| Top speed | Up to 50 km/h (31 mph); powerful legs |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Size and appearance

The emu is Australia's tallest native bird and the second-largest bird alive, reaching about 1.9 m in height and weighing roughly 40 kg. Its shaggy grey-brown plumage hangs loosely and helps insulate the body against both desert heat and cold nights. The wings are reduced to tiny stubs, useless for flight, but the long, three-toed legs are exceptionally strong. Bare blue skin on the neck becomes more vivid during the breeding season.

## Diet and foraging

Emus are omnivores that wander widely in search of food, eating seeds, fruit, flowers, fresh shoots, and a range of insects and other small invertebrates. They follow seasonal rainfall across the continent, timing their movements to reach areas where plants are fruiting and seeding. Like many birds, they swallow small stones that sit in the gizzard and help grind up tough plant matter. An emu can go for long stretches without water but will drink heavily when it finds a source.

## Movement and speed

Although it cannot fly, the emu is built for travel across open country and can sprint at up to 50 km/h. Its long stride lets it cover great distances at an economical pace, and populations may move hundreds of kilometres over a year in response to food and rain. The muscular legs also deliver a powerful forward kick, the bird's main defence against predators such as dingoes. Emus are strong swimmers and will cross rivers when needed.

## Breeding and the role of the male

Emu breeding reverses the usual roles: the female lays a clutch of large dark-green eggs and then often leaves to mate again, while the male takes over incubation. The sitting male barely eats or drinks for around eight weeks, living off stored body fat until the chicks hatch. He then guards and raises the striped youngsters for up to eighteen months, teaching them where to find food. This intense paternal care is one of the emu's most distinctive traits.

## Emus and people

The emu is a national symbol of Australia and appears on the country's coat of arms alongside the kangaroo. Farmed populations are raised for lean meat, oil, and leather, and the bird features prominently in Aboriginal stories and star lore. Wild emus are sometimes seen as pests where they enter farmland, and the famous 1932 "Emu War" saw soldiers struggle to control large flocks. Despite this, the species remains widespread and abundant across most of the mainland.

## Conservation status

The emu is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a large and stable population across mainland Australia. It adapts well to farmland and disturbed country, which has helped it thrive where more specialised species have declined. Several smaller island subspecies were driven to extinction after European settlement, but the mainland bird is in no danger. Wild emus typically live 10 to 20 years.

## Frequently asked questions

### How tall is an emu?

An emu stands up to about 1.9 m tall, making it the tallest bird native to Australia and the second-tallest living bird after the ostrich. Adults weigh roughly 40 kg.

### Can emus fly?

No. Emus are flightless, with wings reduced to small stubs. Instead of flying they rely on their long, powerful legs, which let them run at up to 50 km/h and deliver a strong defensive kick.

### What do emus eat?

Emus are omnivores. They feed on seeds, fruit, flowers, and fresh plant shoots, along with insects and other small invertebrates, and they swallow small stones to help grind food in the gizzard.

### How fast can an emu run?

An emu can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph) over open ground. Its long stride also lets it travel long distances at a steady, energy-efficient pace.

### Do male or female emus raise the chicks?

The male does almost all the work. After the female lays the eggs, the male incubates them for around eight weeks with little food or water, then guards and raises the chicks for up to eighteen months.

### How long do emus live?

Wild emus typically live 10 to 20 years. Birds in captivity or on farms, protected from predators, often reach the upper end of that range or beyond.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Dromaius novaehollandiae.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Dromaius%20novaehollandiae&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Dromaius novaehollandiae. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dromaius_novaehollandiae/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/emu/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.