Characteristics
Emus are flightless birds with small wings that can reach a height of 6 feet and weigh up to 100 pounds. Male and female emus are the same size. They have long and powerful legs with three forward-facing toes. They often kick out at predators, as their strong legs are their only protection. They can live in hot climates due to their feathers acting as protection from the sun. However, they do need easy access to water, so they avoid habitats in heavily wooded areas and desert regions.
Behavior
Female emus are known to fight viciously over unpaired males. They use a pouch in their throat to produce a booming or grunting noise, which they use to communicate, especially during mating season. They are generally solitary animals. Although they are diurnal, they often wake up to drink water and watch for predators during the night. If needed, an emu can swim.
Did You Know?
- The emu egg is so large that one egg can make an omelet big enough to feed up to six adults.
- Emus are the only birds that have calf muscles. They are capable of running at speeds up to 30 mph
- They are the second largest flightless bird, the ostrich is the biggest.
- Help disperse seeds of many low growing plants.
Our Animals
Our emu is named Ralph and he has been at Potter Park Zoo since 2019.
