Photo: www.viajar24h.com / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Cassowary
Casuarius unappendiculatus
Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) — Ratites & Tinamous of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) is a member of the Casuariidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 46.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Casuariiformes
- Family Casuariidae Cassowaries, Emu
- Genus Casuarius
- Species unappendiculatus
Where it lives
Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., northwest of New Guinea), Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., northwestern New Guinea) and New Guinea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 46.1 kg
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Casuariidae
- Order
- Casuariiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Cassowary is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Northern Cassowary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) is a species of bird in the Casuariidae family, part of the order Casuariiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., nw of New Guinea), Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., nw New Guinea) and New Guinea.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 46.1 kg, with a wing length of about 26.5 cm and a tail of around 27.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 185,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Cassowary?
The Northern Cassowary is a very large bird that weighs around 46.1 kg.
Where does the Northern Cassowary live?
The Northern Cassowary is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Salawati (Raja Ampat Is., nw of New Guinea), Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., nw New Guinea) and New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Northern Cassowary belong to?
The Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) belongs to the Casuariidae family, in the order Casuariiformes.
What does the Northern Cassowary eat?
The Northern Cassowary is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Northern Cassowary migrate?
The Northern Cassowary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern Cassowary endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Northern Cassowary make?
2 real field recordings of the Northern Cassowary — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Cassowary's range?
The Northern Cassowary has a mapped global range of about 185,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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