26 Crazy Emu Facts You Need to Know

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published September 4, 2024

On average, emus live for 10–20 years in the wild. They can live up 40 years in captivity._[3]
Like most large, flightless birds, emu males incubate the eggs while the female promptly moves on to mate again. The males also raise the chicks and teach them how to find food and stay safe from predators._[3]
Unlike ostriches, whose necks are nearly featherless, emus have a fully feathered neck._[8]
Emus weigh 80–90 pounds. Ostriches weigh 220–226 pounds, making the ostrich the largest bird in existence and emus the second._[8]
Emus can run about 31 mph. Ostriches are the fastest bird on land and can run about 40–45 mph._[8]
Emus are strong swimmers, able to reach speeds up to 30 mph (49.8 kph) in the water._[3]

Emus are great swimmers

Emus have three toes that all face forward, which helps them run fast. Ostriches are the only birds with two toes._[8]
While an emu has short wings, an ostrich has larger wings. Emus use their wings to cool down by stretching them out to circulate air. They also use them to steer when they are running at top speeds._[8]
The Emu War took place in 1932, when the Australian army tried to cull the birds for population control. However, the emus were too cunning and organized. After using 10,000 rounds of ammo to kill fewer than 1,000 emus, the government gave up._[5]
Emus are ratites, flightless birds with a flat and unkeeled breastbone. Ratites are the most primitive modern birds; the group includes ostriches, kiwis, cassowaries, and rheas. Ratites are only found in the southern hemisphere._[2]
Emus are the largest birds found in Australia. They can reach 5.7 feet (1.75 meters) in height. Males can weigh 110–121 pounds (50–55 kg); females are heftier, weighing about 11 pounds (5 kg) more than males._[8]

Emus are the world's second-largest bird, after ostriches

While ostriches are native only to Africa, emus are only native to Australia._[2]
Ostriches tend to be more aggressive toward humans, while emus tend to be more docile and curious. Both are wild animals and should be treated as such._[2]
Emus only live in Australia. Subspecies of emus once lived on Tasmania and King Island, but they are extinct._[8]
Male emus use a throat pouch to make a call that sounds like "e-moo" and can be heard over a mile away. Females make more of a booming sound._[3]
While its body feathers are soft, an emu's tail feathers are stiff, and they can rattle them to scare off dingoes and other predators._[4]
Emus can sprint at 30 mph (48 kph) and can travel long distances at a fast trot. They can also jump 7 feet (2.1 meters) straight up. To defend themselves, they can attack and inflict damage with their three-toed, clawed feet._[4]
Emus are omnivores. They eat a wide variety of plants as well as crickets, ladybugs, lizards, and ants._[4]
One emu egg has the same weight and volume as 10–12 chicken eggs. They are large and look like avocados._[4]
An emu's body contains up to 3 gallons of oil, which is about three milk jugs. The oil is used in lotions, healthcare products, shampoo, and soaps._[7]
The scientific name for emus is Dromaius novaehollandiae. The word ”Dromaius” is Greek, meaning “runner.” The word “novaehollandiae” means "New Hollander" (emus were initially classified as the New Holland cassowary)._[8]

Their strong legs help them run quickly over long distances

Emus are the only birds with calf muscles in the back of the lower legs (other birds may have the endings around it)._[8]
Emus are not quite as smart as crows, but they are considered to be smarter than turkeys._[6]
In the United States, an emu chick costs $100–$300; a juvenile emu costs $200–$400; and an adult emu is $300–$1000+._[1]
Emu eggs are creamy and rich and very similar to duck eggs; however, boiling one can take an hour._[1]
Emus can detect water from miles away, which helps them survive dry Australian weather conditions._[1]