Southern Cassowary: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Birds That Walk · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. In 2026, scientists found that the tall crest on a southern cassowary's head glows under ultraviolet light.
2. Its powerful legs let it run at up to 50 km/h, leap nearly 2 m straight up and swim across rivers.
3. The father builds a plant mattress up to 100 cm wide on the forest floor. It lets water drain from the eggs, and he raises the chicks alone.
4. It searches the forest floor for fallen fruit, and it can safely digest some fruits and seeds that are toxic to other animals.
5. Females are the bosses. They are bigger than males, with a longer crest, a bigger bill and brighter bare skin.

The quiz

1. What did scientists discover about the cassowary's crest in 2026?

• It is filled with water
• It glows under ultraviolet light (correct)
• It falls off every year
• It makes a whistling sound

Southern cassowary crests glow under UV light.

2. Which of these can a southern cassowary NOT do?

• Swim across rivers
• Run at up to 50 km/h
• Jump nearly 2 m high
• Fly over the treetops (correct)

It does not fly, but its strong legs make it a great runner, jumper and swimmer.

3. Who raises southern cassowary chicks?

• The father alone (correct)
• The mother alone
• Both parents together
• A group of aunts

Dad sits on the eggs and brings up the chicks by himself.

4. What does the cassowary mostly look for on the forest floor?

• Fresh grass
• Tree bark
• Fallen fruit (correct)
• Pine needles

It forages for fallen fruit and seeds.

5. How do female southern cassowaries compare with males?

• They are smaller and duller
• They are bigger and in charge (correct)
• They look completely different in feather colour
• They have no crest

Females are bigger than males and dominate them.

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