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Southern Cassowary

Casuarius casuarius (Linnaeus, C 1758)

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Life history data
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Species distribution
Geographical range
Value: Humid forests of ne Australia, New Guinea and Aru Islands
Source: Clements 2021
Value: Indon, PNG, Aru, Trangan, Wokan, New Guinea, New Guinea
Source: www.birdsofmelanesia.net
Value: Western, southern, and eastern New Guinea; from the Vogel- kop east at least to east coast of Geelvink Bay, all of southern New Guinea from Onin Peninsula to Milne Bay, and north coast of southeastern New Guinea to Morobe district (Gira River). Occurrence in northern New Guinea not so well sub- stantiated, but reported from mouth of Mamberano River to Tana Mera (west of Humboldt Bay). Aru Islands; Ceram (undoubtedly introduced from Onin Peninsula, southwestern New Guinea). East coast of Cape York Peninsula from Pascoe River south to Massy Creek, inland to upper Wenlock River; northern Queensland from Cooktown district (Mt. Amos) south to Burdekin drainage (Paluma), inland to Herberton Range; Hinchinbrook Island/
Source: Peter's Checklist of the Birds of the World
Value: New Guinea, including Aru Islands (off southwestern New Guinea) and northeastern Australia (northern Cape York Peninsula)
Source: Avilist 2025
Value: humid forest of northeastern Australia, and New Guinea, including Aru Islands (off southwestern New Guinea)
Source: Clements, version 2024
Maximum latitude of breeding range
Value: -0.74
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Minimum latitude of breeding range
Value: -18.93
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Centroid latitude
Value: -6.85
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: -6.96
Units: degrees
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Centroid longitude
Value: 140.42
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Nomadic, erratic, irruptive, wandering
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Breeding restricted to island(s)
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Latitudinal range
Value: Tropical
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Migration strategy
Value: Not a Migrant
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: Sedentary
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Total range size
Value: 379633.34
Units: km2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 2300000
Units: km2
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: > 50000
Units: km2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Realm
Value: Australian
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: Australian
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Sedentary, largely does not migrate
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Range and population size
Has restricted range?
Value: N
Source: Birdlife's Worldbird Database
Habitat
Altitude
Value:
Range: 0 - 1400
Units: m
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value:
Range: - 500
Units: m
Source: Birdlife's Worldbird Database
Value:
Range: 0 - 500
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Minimum and maximum altitude recorded
Value:
Range: - 1200
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Altitude range
Value: 500
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Number of major habitats used
Value: 3
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Habitat density (1-3)
Value: Dense habitats
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Habitat description
Value: humid forest, edge, esp near streams;lowlands-3300m
Source: http://www.noord.bart.nl/~edcolijn/bird.html
Value: Forest
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: FOREST
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Primary lifestyle
Value: DIURNAL
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: Terrestrial
Source: Bird et al. 2020
First habitat
Value: F: Forest, secondary forest, swamp forest, tree-fall gaps, taiga, igapo, varzea
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Second habitat
Value: RV: Riparian, riverine, gallery forest, stream, running water, wooded ravines
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Third habitat
Value: WD: Acacia woodland, tropical deciduous/dry forest, savanna woodland, palm groves, miombo woodland, thorn forest, Polylepis woodland, pine-oak woodland
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Food and feeding habits
Number of major food types consumed
Value: 3
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Source used for diet data
Value: 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Main food source
Value: Fruit
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: FruiNect
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Description of Miscellaneous food items
Value: Fungi, eggs, dirt
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Ecological Specialization Index
Value: 1.04576
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Foraging niche
Value: Fugivore ground
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Trophic level
Value: Herbivore
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Herbivore
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Trophic niche
Value: Frugivore
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Frugivore
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Weight of fish in diet
Value: Trace
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of fruits in diet
Value: 6
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of invertebrates in diet
Value: Trace
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of land vertebrates in diet
Value: Trace
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of miscellaneous in diet
Value: 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of nectar in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of plant material in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of scavenging in diet
Value: Trace
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of seeds in diet
Value: 3
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Sum of the weighted diets
Value: 10
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body measurements
Bill depth (females)
Value: 1.99
Range: 1.97 - 2.01
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill depth (males)
Value: 1.94633
Range: 1.81 - 2.189
Units: cm
Sample: 3
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill depth (sex unknown)
Value: 2.063
Range: 1.81 - 2.35
Units: cm
Sample: 7
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (females) - Culmen
Value: 10.56
Range: 10.45 - 10.67
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (males) - Culmen
Value: 10.39
Range: 10.27 - 10.51
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (females) - Nares to tip
Value: 2.645
Range: 2.29 - 3
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (males) - Nares to tip
Value: 2.655
Range: 2.36 - 2.95
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (sex unknown) - Nares to tip
Value: 2.65
Range: 2.29 - 3
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (sex unknown) - Culmen
Value: 10.475
Range: 10.27 - 10.67
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (females)
Value: 1.455
Range: 1.42 - 1.49
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (males)
Value: 1.33367
Range: 1.28 - 1.401
Units: cm
Sample: 3
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (sex unknown)
Value: 1.42829
Range: 1.28 - 1.548
Units: cm
Sample: 7
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Body mass
Value: 44000
Range: 29000 - 65000
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 44000
Units: g
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 44000
Units: grams
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 46700
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (females)
Value:
Range: 58500 -
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 45500
Range: 29000 - 58500
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Body mass (males)
Value: 31850
Range: 29200 - 34100
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value:
Range: 29200 - 34100
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (sex unknown)
Value:
Range: 65000 -
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 51000
Range: 43850 - 65000
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Tail length (females)
Value: 40.5
Range: 40 - 41
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tail length (males)
Value: 40
Range: 38 - 42
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tail length (sex unknown)
Value: 40.25
Range: 38 - 42
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (females)
Value: 28.5
Range: 27.5 - 29.5
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (males)
Value: 28.95
Range: 28.5 - 29.4
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (sex unknown)
Value: 28.725
Range: 27.5 - 29.5
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (females)
Value: 30.9
Range: 29 - 32.8
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (females)
Value: 308.8
Range: 289.8 - 327.8
Units: %
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (males)
Value: 292.3
Range: 289.8 - 294.8
Units: %
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (unknown)
Value: 300.55
Range: 289.8 - 327.8
Units: %
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (females)
Value: 0.02
Range: 0.02 - 0.02
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (males)
Value: 0.02
Range: 0.02 - 0.02
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (unknown)
Value: 0.02
Range: 0.02 - 0.02
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (males)
Value: 29.25
Range: 29 - 29.5
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (females) - secondary1
Value: 30.88
Range: 28.98 - 32.78
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (males) - secondary1
Value: 29.23
Range: 28.98 - 29.48
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (unknown) - secondary1
Value: 30.055
Range: 28.98 - 32.78
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (sex unknown)
Value: 30.075
Range: 29 - 32.8
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Nest characteristics
Description of physical nest (shape, etc.)
Value: platform
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Eggs
Egg length
Value: 135
Range: 118 - 158
Units: mm
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Egg mass
Value: 617
Range: 567 - 646
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Egg width
Value: 92.5
Range: 89 - 100
Units: mm
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Reproduction
Age at first breeding
Value: 4
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 4.002902154
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Age at first breeding (females)
Value: 4
Range: 4 - 4
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Clutch size
Value: 5.666936791
Range: 3 - 8
Units: n
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 4
Units: n
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value:
Range: 3 - 8
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Colonial species
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Cooperative breeding
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Number of breeding attempts per year
Value: 2.49984807
Range: 1 - 2.499984806
Units: n/year
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Sex of bird sitting on eggs/nest
Value: Male
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Incubation period
Value:
Range: 47 - 61
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 50
Range: 47 - 61
Units: days
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Leks
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Monogamous
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
How nests are connected to supporting objects
Value: Basal
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Location where nests are constructed
Value: Ground
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: Ground
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Nest has an 'artificial' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has an 'earth hole' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'ground' location
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'rock' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'tree hole' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'vegetation' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'water' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest structure
Value: Scrape
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Nest has a 'platform' structure
Value: unknown
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Parasitic breeding
Value: 0: false
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: False
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Host of parasitic breeding
Value: 0: false
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Polygynous
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Survival
Adult annual survival rate
Value: 0.91078162
Units: annual rate
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Average generation length (years)
Value: 12.14449609
Range: 10.69811899 - 14.21135494
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 13.91
Units: years
Source: Birdlife 2024
Maximum age
Value: 32.37545411
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 12
Range: 12 - 12
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 30
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Average survival
Value: 12
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Population decline over 10 years
Value: 2%
Range: 0% - 3%
Units: percent
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Population decline over 3 generation
Value: 5%
Range: 1% - 10%
Units: percent
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Social behaviour
Pairs and family groups
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Social flocks
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Pairs and family groups
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Solitary
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Behaviour
Inability to fly
Value: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
References

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