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ID tip
The adult southern cassowary has stiff, bristly black plumage, a blue face and a long neck, red on the cape and two red wattles measuring up to 18 cm (7.1 in) in length hanging down around its throat. A horn-like brown casque, measuring 13 to 20 cm (5.1 to 7.9 in) high, sits atop the head. The bill can range from 9.8 to 19 cm (3.9 to 7.5 in). The plumage is sexually monomorphic, but the female is dominant and larger with a longer casque, larger bill and brighter-coloured bare parts.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Southern Cassowary
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Southern Cassowary
The map shades 3 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Southern Cassowary
The southern cassowary, also known as double-wattled cassowary, Australian cassowary, or two-wattled cassowary, is a large, flightless, mostly black bird, found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and northeastern Australia. It is one of the three living species of cassowary, alongside the dwarf cassowary and the northern cassowary. It is a ratite and therefore related to the emu, ostrich, rhea and kiwi. Southern cassowaries are among the largest birds in the world, only weighing less than ostriches.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Northern CassowaryCasuarius unappendiculatusThe northern cassowary has a hard and stiff black plumage, blue facial skin and a casque on top of the head.
Dwarf CassowaryCasuarius bennettiThe dwarf cassowary is a large bird but is smaller than other living cassowaries (the southern cassowary and northern cassowary).
Side by side: Emu vs Southern Cassowary
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