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Emus

Large, flightless birds of Australia: their appearance, habitat, facts, and myths.

415 Questions

How is oil extract of mullein prepared?

Oil extract: 1 cup of mullein blossoms in .5 cup of olive oil. Heat slowly for about 3 hours, strain. Cold Extraction: cover flowers in olive oil and set aside in sun to steep for 7 - 10 days. Strain. And more . . .

Why is my female emu pushing the male away and hissing at him?

The female emu may be exhibiting aggressive behavior due to territoriality, dominance, or feeling threatened. It could also be a sign of breeding season aggression. Observing their body language and the context of the situation can help determine the specific reason for her behavior.

What is the emu's temperament?

Emus are typically curious birds, pecking at anything that looks interesting to them; people have interpreted this curiosity as aggression, because an emu will also chase anything that looks interesting - including people, if there is something about them that piques the emu's interest, or if they know the person is carrying food. They are docile birds, and not at all inclined to aggression, but they will do whatever they want to get their own way.

What is the scientific name for the emu?

The scientific name for an ostrich is Struthio Camelus.

What is the colour of the head and neck of an emu?

No specific research has been done on what colours an emu is able to see. Any studies that have been done of bird vision in general indicate that birds can see all colours, including ultraviolet light.

How are emus and ostriches different from each other?

There are several differences between emus and ostriches.

  • Emus are native to Australia, whilst ostriches are native to Africa.
  • Emus have darker colouring, with dark brown, grey and black fine feathers. Ostriches have thicker and lighter plumage.
  • An ostrich is bigger than an emu. An emu weighs between 66 and 99 pounds (30-45kg). An ostrich weighs about 300 pounds.
  • The ostrich is faster and is, in fact, the world's fastest two-legged animal. An ostrich can sprint at 65 Kilometres per hour (40 miles per hour) and an emu can sprint at 50 kph, or 30 mph.
  • Ostriches are unusual among the ratites (flightless birds) as they have only two toes on each foot. Emus and other ratites have three toes.

Are emus marsupials?

Like the majority of Australian native mammals, the wombat is a marsupial.

How often do emus eat?

Male and female emus pair up for breeding in the summer months of December and January. The male builds a nest in a shallow depression in the ground, lining it with bark, grass, twigs, and leaves.

During mid Autumn and early winter (April through to June), the female lays up to 8-10 large, thick-shelled dark green eggs, and sometimes the nests contain the eggs of several females. The male incubates the eggs, during which time he does not eat, drink, or pass any waste matter, surviving only on accumulated body fat. The male stays on the nest twenty-four hours a day, standing only every couple of hours to turn the eggs.

It takes between 56-60 days for the eggs to hatch. The chicks, which are distinctly striped and unique in appearance, stay with the father for 5-7 months.

Young emus reach sexual maturity between 2 and 3 years of age. The average lifespan of emus can be 10 to 20 years.

Is a emu a aves?

A frog is an amphibian.

Is an emu a herbivore or an omnivore?

Emus are omnivores, and they will eat anything that is remotely edible, including some things which are not. They are very curious birds that will try almost anything, using their large beaks to peck at and pick up food.

Commonly, they eat insects, caterpillars, grubs and other invertebrates; seeds, nuts, flowers, fruits, young leaves and other plant parts; lizards, other small animals and even animal droppings. They do not eat dry grasses or older leaves, even if that's all that is available to them. They are more likely to move on to other food sources.

Emus also swallow quite large stones and charcoal to help them digest their food.

Where are emu eggs found?

Emus are tall (6'6"), flightless birds which are native to Australia. Emus lay 5-15 very large eggs at one time. Each egg has one emu in it but, when broken for cooking, it is the equivalent of about 1 dozen hen's eggs.

An emu is the second largest bird in the world, the first being the ostrich, which is also native to Australia. Neither of them is found in any other part of the world.

How many emus are there in a group?

There is only one type of emu - Dromaius novaehollandiae.

There used to be three known species. Two dwarf species of emu inhabited Kangaroo Island (off the South Australian coast) and King Island (in Bass Strait) but they became extinct once whalers began visiting and settling the area.

Do emus eat bread?

Given the amazing range of things that a typically curious emu will peck from the ground, bread is probably one of the more healthy options for it. However, emus cannot live by bread alone. There must be variety in their diet, and they need access to small pebbles and stones, which they swallow to help grind up their food and aid the digestive process.

What is an emu's outer covering?

Like all birds, the emu's body covering is feathers,although they are fine and wispy.

Do emus have noses?

Emus a birds and so have a beak. The beak has 'nostril openings' just like any other bird.

Why the emu is the national animal of Australia?

The emu is not the national animal of Australia. It does, however, appear on the coat-of-arms, supposedly because it has never been observed taking a backwards step.

How many eyelids do emus have?

It is said mallards have three eyelids per eye. I have never directly observed that. I have only seen one that closes from the bottom instead of from the top.

What do emus prey on?

Adult emus do not have any natural predators. Dingoes (not native to Australia) will take on an adult emu, as a pack, but not individually.

Young emus are subject to predation by a number of introduced species such as foxes and dogs, as well as native species such as eagles and even goannas.

Where would emus make their dwelling?

Emus do not have any specific shelter. They will avoid the heat if possible by staying under trees. They only ever build nests at breeding time, and these nests are dug out of the ground and lined with sticks, leaves and grass.

Are emus nocturnal?

Emus are diurnal, not nocturnal, being most active during the day.

What is the difference between the emu and the kiwi?

These birds, along with the rhea, are all flightless. Although they are classed as birds, they are among the very few birds that can't actually fly at all. They are members of a group of birds called ratites. Ratites have wings but the bones in their chests do not have the capacity for flight muscles, which is what a bird needs to fly.