has anyone heard of a cassowary bird?

Answer 1

The cassowary is a large flightless bird. It is the third largest of a family of birds called ratites. The ostrich is the largest ratite and the emu is second largest. The ratites do not have a bone in their chest for flight muscles to anchor onto, so they cannot fly.

There are three kinds of cassowary, two found in New Guinea and one, the Southern Cassowary, found in northern Queensland. Their habitat is tropical rainforest.

The cassowary has a horny helmet, called a casque (say cask) , on its head. This helps it crash its way through the thick forest. The skin on the cassowary's head and neck is blue. Two long red 'wattles' hang down from the neck. The feathers on the body are black and look more like hair than feathers. The legs are thick and greyish, with three toes. The inner toe has a 12 cm claw like a spike, which is used in defence. Cassowaries can be dangerous when cornered.

Cassowaries eat fruit and seeds. The seeds pass through their bodies, and so the cassowary plays an important part in spreading seeds of rainforest plants. They also eat small mammals and birds they find dead.

Females are slightly larger than males. Breeding takes place May to November. After mating, a female lays 3-6 eggs, then leaves the male to sit on them for about 8 weeks until they hatch. The chicks are cream with brown stripes, and stay with the male for 9 months.

The southern cassowary is endangered. There may be as few as 1500 left in the wild. Much of the rainforest where they live has been cleared.

Answer 2

Yes. The Cassowary is a bird native to North Eastern Australia and Papua New guinea. They are a lot like an Emu but are diffent in that they have a large bump on their heads, the throat area of the male is a bright blue and red and they have a large talon on one of their toes. The Female is a plain brown colour. They belong to a family of birds called the ratites of which the Ostrich is the largest member. They are very aggressive and have killed more people than any other bird on the planet. They have a tendancy to kick and in the process cut you open with their talon ( think Verlociraptor from Jurassic Park).

Here are some pictures:
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kingfisher.jp/alcedo/bird_g/cairns/2-153-16.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kingfisher.jp/alcedo/bird/bird27e.html&h=600&w=400&sz=13&tbnid=-W4GzkNA0WNugM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=90&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcassowary%2Bbird&start=2&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2

Answer 3

I just read a story by Morris West, set in New Guinea, where a local sorcerer transformed into a cassowary bird.

Answer 4

Swans Only attack when defending their nest! they try drowning the attacker Ostriches Ostriches can run up to 45 mph and can be as big as 9 feet and 350lbs. An ostrich has a claw on each foot. If you were to ever be kicked by in ostrich in the back, it could: 1. Break your spine, 2. Slice you right open, or 3. Do both.

Answer 5

they're the second largest flightless bird, from northern australia and new guinea. they are classified as the world's most dangerous bird because of their deadly attacks on humans. usually when humans invade their territory.

Answer 6

Yes, its a bit like an emu and can be quite agressive

Answer 7

They are in that emu-ostrich area and can be just as nasty and aggressive as those two birds can be

Answer 8

i know the name i just cant picture the bird

Answer 9

Yes.

Answer 10

yes