The emu, Australia's largest flightless bird, is a fascinating creature that enriches the Australian wilderness with its imposing appearance. These birds can grow up to 1.9 metres tall and impress with their blue-grey plumage and long neck. Emus are known to be fast runners and can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h, which helps them in the wild when searching for food and escaping from predators.
Compared to the ostrich, another flightless ratite, the emu differs in several characteristics. One striking difference is their size - emus are smaller than ostriches. The emu also has a shorter neck and a characteristic triangular tuft of feathers on its head. While ostriches are native to Africa, emus are found exclusively in Australia.
Emus are omnivores that feed on plants, insects and small animals. They have an important ecological role as seed dispersers, picking up seeds from plants and excreting them elsewhere. The emu is not only a symbol of Australian wildlife, but also a fascinating example of adaptation and survival in the different regions of Australia. I met this emu in Victoria in the Wimmera.
Hello and welcome! Here are the best photos I've ever taken: Hilke - a true Hamburg girl with a lot of France in her heart. I trained as an editor and, after two decades with various publishing houses, I've been working as a freelance journalist for print, .. Read more…