Cassowaries

Cassowaries are big, strange-looking birds that cannot fly. They have black feathers, bright blue necks, and a tall helmet on their heads. Cassowaries live in rainforests in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. They are sometimes called the world's most dangerous bird because they have sharp claws. Cassowaries are related to emus and ostriches.

A Funny Helmet

The bump on top of a cassowary's head is called a casque. It is made of the same stuff as your fingernails. Scientists are not sure what the casque is for. It might help the bird push through thick plants or make its calls louder. The casque grows bigger as the cassowary gets older.

Big and Powerful

Cassowaries can grow over 6 feet tall and weigh more than 100 pounds. They have three toes on each foot, and the middle toe has a long, sharp claw. A cassowary can run up to 30 miles per hour through the forest. They are also good swimmers. When scared, they kick hard with their strong legs.

Helping the Forest

Cassowaries eat mostly fallen fruit from the rainforest. Some fruits are so big that only a cassowary can swallow them whole. The seeds pass through the bird and grow into new trees. Without cassowaries, many rainforest trees would have trouble spreading their seeds. That is why they are called forest gardeners.

Fun Facts

• Father cassowaries take care of the eggs and chicks, not the mothers.
• Baby cassowaries have brown and cream stripes like little watermelons.
• Cassowary eggs are bright green.

Did You Know?

A cassowary can jump almost 5 feet straight up into the air when it wants to scare away danger.