Standing at 170-180cm tall, and weighing up to 65kg, Southern Cassowaries are the world’s third tallest bird and second heaviest. Southern Cassowaries have a thick, tall casque on top of their head, with blue head and neck skin, red skin down the sides of the neck, and a double red and blue wattle. They have double-shafted, long black feathers that give them a shaggy appearance, and short, thick, powerful legs. Each foot has 3 toes with sharp claws, especially the medial claw, which measures at up to 12cm long and can tear through flesh.
Southern Cassowaries are omnivorous, feeding primarily on fruits, seeds and berries, as well as fish and carrion.
Southern Cassowaries are solitary birds, coming together only during breeding season from July-September. Females will lay 1-6 light pear-green eggs in a large flat nest made of sticks, leaves and other debris. She will then leave to find another mate, and the male will be responsible for incubating the eggs and raising the chicks.
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