Emu is the largest bird in Australia, and the second largest in the world after the ostrich.Emus have long necks, sharp beaks and small ears. They have two sets of eyelids, one for blinking and one to keep out the dust. Their feet are long, with three toes. One toe on each foot has a long talon, for fighting.Emu are generally very docile. Emu tend to be intensely curious creatures. Emu chicks hatch from eggs ranging in size from 400 to 900 grams in weight, with the average being near 550 grams or about 1.25 pounds. Upon hatching, the chicks will stand nearly 10 inches tall and they will have a yellowish-white and black striping used to camouflage them in the wild. At three months, the chicks have grown to 24 inches and transition through a black head and then black body stage as their feathers grow in. Within 6 months the chick is 4 1/2 feet tall and has attained the black, tan and brown feather coloring of the adult and they begin to fill out in weight. As adults they possess a soft downy feathering [since no vein runs through the center of each double-feathered quill]. Often parts of the head, neck and beak can display a radiant blue coloring.Emus are found only in Australia. They live in most of the less-populated areas of the continent and although they can survive in most regions, they avoid dense forest and severe desert.
Emus have been living in Australia for a very long time. Their ancestors, the Dromornithids, roamed the land when dinosaurs lived. Originally there were three species of emu, but now there is only one. The two other species became extinct because they were hunted for their meat and feathers.
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You present such a beautiful Emu Bird Images and facts.
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