Birds come in all different shapes and sizes, from tiny hummingbirds to enormous ostriches. If you’ve ever wondered what the second largest bird species is, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: the Emu is the second largest bird in the world after the ostrich.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the second largest bird species, including key facts about the Emu, how it compares in size to other large birds, what makes it unique, where it lives, and more.
We’ll also overview a few other very large bird species that give the Emu a run for its money in the size department.
Key Facts About the Emu
Average Size and Weight
The flightless emu is the second largest bird in the world by height, averaging around 5 to 6 feet tall. Emus weigh an average of 97 to 130 pounds, with females generally weighing less than males. Though tall, emus have small bodies in proportion to their long legs and neck.
Their body mass makes them adaptable to seasonal conditions in their native Australia.
Appearance and Special Markings
With shaggy, brown and gray feathers, emus appear unkempt but have a purposeful appearance. Their heads and necks are mostly bald with bluish skin apparent. Perhaps their most distinctive feature is their feet, which have three forward-facing toes.
Each toe sports a long, thick, dark gray claw up to 4 inches long which they use for defense. Emus fold their wings close against their bodies, rendering them useless for flight. When needed, emus can sprint up to 30 mph using their strong legs.
Unique Behaviors
Emus form monogamous pairs during breeding season, with the male incubating the eggs and raising chicks. Some unique behaviors include males making loud booming calls to attract mates and sitting on nests for 50+ days while fasting.
Emus are also known for their inquisitiveness, with groups investigating new objects and surroundings in their environment as they forage for fruits, insects, seeds and flowers. Their pecking order ensures the dominant male and female get first access to food and water resources.
Habitat and Range
Found across most of mainland Australia, emus thrive in a variety of habitats including savannahs, grasslands and deserts. They travel great distances while grazing, needing large home territories. Expanding farming and development across Australia has diminished but not eliminated native emu populations.
Their adaptability continues to ensure the iconic emu endures across the Outback. Conservation efforts now protect these unusual flightless birds celebrating their integral place in Australia’s landscape.
How the Emu Compares to Other Large Birds
The Ostrich: Largest Bird in the World
The ostrich is the undisputed largest bird in the world. An adult male ostrich can stand up to 9 feet tall and weigh over 350 pounds. Ostriches are native to Africa and are farmed around the world for their meat, eggs, and feathers. Some key facts about ostriches:
- Can run up to 43 mph, making them the fastest two-legged animal
- Have the largest eyes of any land animal (up to 2 inches in diameter)
- Only birds with two toes on each foot
- Powerful long legs can deliver dangerous kicks capable of killing predators like lions
Southern Cassowary: Third Largest Bird
After the ostrich and emu, the Southern Cassowary is the third tallest and heaviest bird. Cassowaries are large flightless birds most closely related to emus that inhabit the tropical forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. Fun facts about cassowaries:
- Males stand up to 6 feet 3 inches tall and weigh up to 190 pounds
- Cassowaries are omnivores that eat fruit, snails, frogs, insects, fungi, and even small mammals and birds
- They have sharp claws up to 4 inches long on three toes that can serve as deadly weapons
- The cassowary is recognized as the most dangerous bird in the world due to its aggression and long history of attacking humans
Somali Ostrich: Fourth Largest Bird
While smaller than the common ostrich, the Somali ostrich is still a very large flightless bird and the fourth heaviest living bird species. Some quick facts on the Somali ostrich:
- Native to the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti
- Males reach weights of up to 320 pounds, but average around 220 pounds
- Stands approximately 7 feet tall, compared to 9 feet for the common ostrich
- Laid the largest known single egg of any living bird, averaging over 3 pounds
Bird | Average Weight | Average Height |
---|---|---|
Common Ostrich | 350 pounds | 9 feet |
Emu | 110 pounds | 6 feet |
Southern Cassowary | 190 pounds | 6 feet 3 inches |
Somali Ostrich | 220 pounds | 7 feet |
As this comparison shows, the emu is dwarfed in size by the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, and is fairly comparable in stature to the third largest bird, the cassowary. It still ranks firmly among the heaviest bird species, outweighing all other living birds aside from the other ratites.
Emus and cassowaries also share some similarities as shaggy-feathered, flightless birds that can deliver dangerous kicks with their powerful legs and sharp claws.
What Makes the Emu Unique
Cannot Fly But Can Run Fast
One of the most distinguishing features of the emu is that it cannot fly, despite having wings. In fact, emus are the second largest birds in the world that do not have the ability to fly. However, what they lack in flying skills, they make up for in running abilities.
Emus can sprint up to 30 mph and maintain a steady pace of 20 mph. Their long, strong legs and high endurance allow them to cover great distances with ease. Truly, the flightless emu is an incredible runner!
Males Brood and Raise Young
Emus exhibit an unusual family structure where the male takes on the role of parenting the chicks. After mating, the male emu will sit on the eggs for up to 56 days until they hatch. During this time, he rarely eats, drinks or defecates, showing an astounding dedication to incubation.
Once hatched, the male will teach the chicks how to find food and shelter for up to 18 months. Female emus play no part in raising the young. This unique reversal of gender roles is rare in the animal kingdom and makes the emu stand out.
Unusual Mating Habits
When it comes to finding a mate, emus have some strange courtship behaviors. Males will fight each other by grappling with their necks and kicking with their large feet. This establishes dominance in a hierarchy, with the winner mating with most females.
Interestingly, female emus may also fight over a male partner. After coupling, the pair heads their separate ways – the male to tend the eggs and female to possibly mate with inferior males. Their promiscuous habits and lack of pair bonding are certainly outside the norm for birds.
Just another example of the emu’s peculiarity!
Where Emus Live
Native to Australia
The emu is endemic to Australia, meaning it is found nowhere else in the wild. Emus are native to all areas of mainland Australia except for the southwest corner. They can thrive in most habitats across the continent, including deserts, forests and grasslands.
Emus evolved in Australia over millions of years to be well-adapted to its challenging climate and environment.
Habitat Preferences
Emus prefer more open habitats like grasslands, savannas and lightly wooded areas. They tend to avoid dense forest and heavy woodland. Emus need access to water sources and areas of shade. They also require large open spaces to accommodate their nomadic lifestyle and size.
During hot summer days, emus will remain close to water sources and shaded areas to stay cool.
Some key habitat features that emus seek out include:
- Open grassy areas with scattered trees or shrubs
- Availability of water for drinking and bathing
- Areas of shade and shelter from extreme heat or cold
- Access to food sources like grasses, fruits, insects and small vertebrates
- Sufficient space to roam and forage
Conservation Status
The emu has a conservation status of Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their numbers are estimated between 630,000 to 725,000 mature individuals across Australia. Emus remain widespread and adapt readily to land-use changes by humans.
They are not currently considered vulnerable to extinction.
Some key facts about emus and conservation:
- Emus are classified as a protected species under law in Australia.
- Major threats include habitat loss and fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and predation by invasive species like foxes and feral cats.
- Farmers sometimes view emus as a nuisance as they can damage crops and fences.
- Conservation measures include protected habitat areas and wildlife corridors, reducing road collisions, and controlling populations of invasive predators.
- More research is needed to fully understand emu population sizes and trends across their range.
Other Very Large Bird Species
Great Bustard
The Great Bustard is another impressively large bird, though still much smaller than the largest ostrich species. Male Great Bustards average around 30 pounds, with some exceptional specimens reaching 40 pounds. That makes them heavier on average than even the largest flying birds alive today.
Great Bustards stand nearly 4 feet tall, with a wingspan exceeding 7 feet. They can be found living in grasslands and agricultural areas of central and southern Europe as well as parts of Asia. Unfortunately, Great Bustard populations have declined precipitously in modern times due to habitat loss and hunting pressures.
Dalmatian Pelican
The Dalmatian Pelican is a massive waterbird native to lakes, rivers, and wetlands in southeastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Though not as tall as an ostrich or Great Bustard, Dalmatian Pelicans have incredibly long wings that allow them to soar to great heights.
Their wingspans surpass 10 feet, making them arguably the bird with the largest wingspan today. An adult Dalmatian Pelican can weigh over 30 pounds as well. They feed primarily on fish, which they scoop from the water while swimming. Dalmatian Pelicans live in flocks and breed in large colonies.
While still widespread globally, they face threats from wetlands drainage and pollution.
Andean Condor
The Andean Condor is the largest flying land bird alive today. These huge vultures have wingspans up to 10.5 feet and can weigh over 30 pounds as adults. They live high up in the Andes mountains in South America and glide effortlessly on thermal winds through the peaks.
Andean Condors are classic scavenging vultures that feast mainly on large dead mammals. They have an incredible sense of smell which allows them to detect carcasses from many miles away. Once a food source is located, dozens of Andean Condors may congregate together to feed.
Though the wild population still numbers in the thousands, their habitats face increased threats from human activities.
Conclusion
While the ostrich reigns supreme as the largest bird in the world, the Emu is certainly impressive as the second largest bird species on the planet. With its large stature, inability to fly, and unique behaviors, the Emu stands out from the avian crowd in many ways.
We hope this comprehensive guide has helped answer your question about what the second largest bird is. Let us know if you have any other bird-related questions!