Tall and majestic, the emu belongs to a group of flightless running birds known as ratites, the most primitive of the modern bird families. The ratite family includes the kiwi, ostrich, cassowary, and rhea, all birds found only in the Southern Hemisphere. The emu is the second-largest living bird in the world (the ostrich is the largest).

Emus are large flightless birds. They have large, feathered bodies, strong legs, and a long and sparsely feathered neck. They are the second largest bird in the world, surpassed only by the ostrich. Emus do have small wings, but they are insufficient for flight. Emus and other ratites have a unique feather design.

The emu is the second largest living bird and the largest bird found in Australia. Its height averages 5.7 feet (1.75 meters). Males weigh 110 to 121 pounds (50 to 55 kilograms), and females weigh about 11 pounds (5 kilograms) more than males.

Emus are considered the largest native bird in Australia. They serve an important purpose for helping to preserve habitats by being seed dispersal specialists! They will often eat seeds whole then defecate and disperse them along the way. Even though Emu’s are considered stable, they are facing some threats to their natural habitats.

Learn more about the Emu, including behavior, population status, average size, diet, conservation efforts, and more. Contact us with any questions!

The emu is the largest bird native to Australia. If threatened, they rattle their stiff tail feathers or use powerful kicks to deter predators. Emus are the only bird with calf muscles.

The emu is the largest bird native to Australia, growing to be about six feet tall. The emu has shaggy brown to grey-brown feathers on its body and small wings. The Emu can run up to 30 miles per hour, changing direction while moving at top speed to evade predators.

The Zoo has one emu, a male named Banjo who hatched at Ostrichland in Buellton, CA; Native only to Australia, the emu lives throughout most of the continent; Australia’s tallest native bird, reaching between 5.25 and 6.25 feet when standing; Favorite foods are fruit, seeds, plant shoots, insects, small animals, and animal droppings

At the Phoenix Zoo, our Emus enjoy a good soaking with the hose or sitting under the sprinklers or misters on a hot day. Occasionally, while getting sprayed by the hose, they will roll over on their side in the mud and kick their legs in the air!

Animal Info Penelope, our emu, is apart of a three species exhibit which includes the Eastern grey kangaroos, as well as Bennett's wallabies. All of these species originate from Australia, and live in the Australian Outback.