Northern Cassowary - Description

Description

It has hard and stiff black plumage, blue facial skin and a casque on top of the head. It has a bright red or yellow colored neck and wattle. The feet are huge and strong with long, dagger-like claw on its inner toe. The sexes are similar. The male, at 30 to 37 kg (66 to 82 lb), is smaller than female, at an average of 58 kg (128 lb), making it the worlds third heaviest living bird species after the Ostrich and the similarly-sized Southern Cassowary. These birds measure 149 cm (4.9 ft) long and stand 1.5–1.8 m (4.9–5.9 ft) in height. Compared to the Southern Cassowary, the Northern Cassowary has a slightly shorter bill, at 12 to 13.7 cm (4.7 to 5.4 in), but a slightly longer tarsal length, at 28 to 33.2 cm (11 to 13.1 in).

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