Emu Facts

About the emu

Emus have soft brown feathers, long necks and long legs, and they can stand up to 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) tall. They cover great distances on foot and can sprint at 48 km/h (30 mph) when needed. As omnivores they forage on plants and insects, can go weeks without food, and drink rarely but take in lots of fresh water when they get the chance.

Breeding happens in May and June, and females often fight over mates. In one season a female may mate more than once and produce multiple clutches. The male does the incubating, barely eating or drinking and losing a lot of weight. Eggs hatch after about eight weeks, and fathers raise the chicks, which reach full size in around six months.

Did you know?

• Emus on Tasmania, Kangaroo Island and King Island went extinct after Europeans settled Australia in 1788.
• The emu is the only living member of the genus Dromaius.
• Invasive animals eating emu eggs are among the threats to some local emu populations.