Buzz
While all birds are considered living dinosaurs, the dagger-clawed cassowary truly embodies this prehistoric connection. Wildlife experts often describe cassowaries as the most perilous bird species on Earth—and yes, there have been reported fatalities caused by them. Learn all about this majestic yet terrifying creature.
1. The southern cassowary ranks as the second-heaviest bird on the planet.
Experts identify three distinct species of cassowary, all of which inhabit New Guinea, northeastern Australia, and nearby islands. The smallest species, the dwarf cassowary, stands at approximately 3 feet tall. The northern cassowary, with its vibrant orange throat, can reach almost 5 feet in height. The southern cassowary is the largest, growing up to 5 feet 6 inches tall. Only ostriches and emus surpass it in size. Female southern cassowaries can weigh up to 157 pounds, while males reach up to 121 pounds, making them the second-heaviest bird species, after ostriches.
2. Cassowaries possess dangerous feet.
In regions of Australia where southern cassowaries are found, you might encounter signs that read “Be Cass-o-wary.” Take this advice seriously. While these birds are typically shy and solitary, they can become hostile if provoked, using powerful head-butts and pecks in defense. Their most lethal feature is the sharp claw on the middle toe of each foot, which can grow up to 5 inches in length. With a series of downward kicks, cassowaries can break bones and cause severe lacerations that may be fatal.
3. The male cassowary takes charge of raising the chicks.
Female cassowaries mate with multiple partners. After laying her eggs, she leaves them behind, and the male takes responsibility. He incubates the eggs for a minimum of 50 days, never leaving the nest, even to eat or drink. Once the chicks hatch, the father spends the next nine months protecting and nurturing them. He also teaches them how to find food and survive on their own.
4. Cassowaries are surprisingly agile jumpers.
What’s more frightening than a 150-pound modern-day dinosaur with deadly claws? One that can leap 7 feet into the air. To maximize the use of their toe daggers, cassowaries will sometimes jump feet-first at their adversaries, with their claws slashing downward mid-air. In addition to their jumping ability, they’re also excellent swimmers and sprinters, capable of reaching speeds of 30 miles per hour.
5. Cassowaries have a hidden spike on each wing.
Cassowaries share a close relationship with emus and a more distant one with ostriches, rheas, and kiwis. These flightless birds, collectively known as ratites, have small vestigial wings tipped with a small claw, the function of which remains unclear.
6. Cassowaries are frugivores that occasionally eat their own feces.
In the wild, cassowaries primarily consume fruits and berries that have fallen to the forest floor in the rainforests they inhabit. A typical southern cassowary can consume up to 11 pounds of fruit daily, along with fungi and the occasional carrion for an extra protein boost.
Cassowaries are also known to hunt rodents, snails, and lizards. Surprisingly, they also eat poop. Cassowary droppings usually contain half-digested fruit, which still holds nutritional value. As a result, these birds consume both their own feces and that of other cassowaries.
7. The purpose of their strange crests, or casques, remains a mystery.
Cassowaries are easily identified by their royal-blue necks and shaggy black feathers, but their most striking feature is the helmet-like casque above their eyes. This bony structure is covered in keratin (the same material as human fingernails) and begins to develop when the bird reaches about 2 years old. While scientists have long speculated about its purpose, one theory suggests that the casque helps cassowaries push through dense forest undergrowth. Another possibility is that the casques play a role in attracting mates.
A more intriguing theory concerns the way these birds communicate. Cassowaries produce very low bellows—known as the deepest bird calls recorded by humans. It’s possible that the casque amplifies these sounds, functioning as a resonance chamber. Some crested dinosaurs, such as Parasaurolophus from Jurassic Park, may have communicated in a similar fashion.
8. Cassowaries can live for several decades, at least in zoos.
The lifespan of a wild cassowary is still unknown to naturalists. However, some southern cassowaries have lived up to their 40th birthday in captivity. In zoos, northern cassowaries can live even longer—one individual reached the age of 48, and another may have been as old as 61. On average, dwarf cassowaries in captivity live around 26 years.
9. Cassowaries have unusual genitalia.
Both male and female cassowaries possess a pseudo-penis that is not connected to any of their internal reproductive organs. During mating, the male ejaculates through his cloaca, located at the base of the pseudo-penis. When not mating, the male's pseudo-penis is retracted and turned inside out.
This peculiar anatomy has earned the cassowary a unique place in New Guinean culture and folklore. For instance, the Mianmin people tell a story about a human woman who transformed into a cassowary after acquiring a penis. Another indigenous group, the Umeda, holds an annual ceremony called “ida,” a two-day event featuring a fertility dance performed by two male dancers representing a pair of cassowaries. The dancers wear heavy masks and are coated in charcoal from head to toe.
10. At least two humans have met their demise at the hands of cassowaries.
There have been only two confirmed instances of cassowaries killing humans. In April 1926, a cassowary fatally charged 16-year-old farmer Phillip McLean in northern Queensland, Australia. More recently, a 75-year-old man from Florida was killed by a cassowary he had kept as a pet on his exotic bird farm.
In 1999, Queensland Parks and Wildlife ranger Christopher P. Kofron studied 150 recorded cassowary attacks on humans. Twenty-two percent of these attacks occurred when the bird was protecting itself, its eggs, or its chicks. Five percent resulted from humans getting too close to the bird’s food, while 73 percent were linked to cassowaries associating people with easy meals. Feeding these birds, particularly bananas and watermelon, had caused many to lose their natural wariness of humans. While feeding wild cassowaries is now illegal, it remains a common practice.
