A male Southern Cassowary looks like a dinosaur as it poses for a photograph

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cr_wildlife

cr_wildlife

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During our recent trip to Australia, we were very fortunate indeed to see three Southern Cassowaries, a male, a female, and a juvenile. These are large birds, being ranked as the third heaviest bird int the world. Females can weigh up to 165 pounds and stand up to 6 feet tall! The medial of their forward pointing toes has a modified, spear-like claw. The birds can jump and kick, using this claw as a weapon. Despite having a reputation for aggression, the birds rarely attack humans. Of 150 reported attacks, the birds were expecting to be fed in 75% of the cases and only kicked in 15% of the cases. Common sense suggests that one should keep a safe distance and not feed the birds! This image shows a male that was caring for one chick. Females are larger than males and have a larger casque.
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Great shot!

Actually, the Cassowary is the second heaviest bird after the Ostrich and the third tallest after both the Ostrich and Emu.
 
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Lance B said:
Great shot!

Actually, the Cassowary is the second heaviest bird after the Ostrich and the third tallest after both the Ostrich and Emu.
Click to expand...
No, the ostrich has been split into two species, the common ostrich and the Somali Ostrich, making the Southern Cassowary the 3rd heaviest bird and the fourth tallest bird.
Thanks for liking the photo!
 
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cr_wildlife said:
During our recent trip to Australia, we were very fortunate indeed to see three Southern Cassowaries, a male, a female, and a juvenile. These are large birds, being ranked as the third heaviest bird int the world. Females can weigh up to 165 pounds and stand up to 6 feet tall! The medial of their forward pointing toes has a modified, spear-like claw. The birds can jump and kick, using this claw as a weapon. Despite having a reputation for aggression, the birds rarely attack humans. Of 150 reported attacks, the birds were expecting to be fed in 75% of the cases and only kicked in 15% of the cases. Common sense suggests that one should keep a safe distance and not feed the birds! This image shows a male that was caring for one chick. Females are larger than males and have a larger casque.View attachment 61346
Click to expand...
Awesome shot
 
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cr_wildlife said:
No, the ostrich has been split into two species, the common ostrich and the Somali Ostrich, making the Southern Cassowary the 3rd heaviest bird and the fourth tallest bird.
Thanks for liking the photo!
Click to expand...
Well, technically that is still an Ostrich meaning one bird spiecies. :)

According to Wikipedia it is the Cassowary that is the second heaviest:
en.wikipedia.org

Cassowary - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
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Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus
Somali Ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes
Two species, each with a different scientific name. Really, Wikipedia?:sick: You should update the listing!
Corey
 
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cr_wildlife said:
Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus
Somali Ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes
Two species, each with a different scientific name. Really, Wikipedia?:sick: You should update the listing!
Corey
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Disagree. Same basic species. So, when someone states Ostriches are the heaviest bird that encompasses all Ostriches as a group. When someone states that Cassowaries are the second heaviest bird, that encompasses all Cassowaries as a group. Within eachgroup, there are lighter/smaller and larger/heavier varities of each. However, as a whole, Ostriches are heavier and taller than the Cassowary. As a group, Emu's are taller, but lighter than the Cassowary. As a group, Casowaries are the second heaviest bird and the third tallest.
I shall leave it up to you to update the listing if you feel that it is incorrect. :)
 
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Two species of ostriches are not one species, three species of cassowaries are not one species. One does not averages across species to to get a size for a species. Thus, I will consider Southern Cassowaries the third heaviest bird species. Not genus, species. We will have to agree to disagree.
 
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