Emu Pop-Out Postcard

More Emu facts.....

The emu is the largest native Australian bird. Part of the ratite family of animals, these flightless birds are related to the Cassowary and American Ostrich and can grow up to 2 metres (6.5 feet) in height. They have soft brown feathers, a long neck and long, strong legs with 3 toes on each foot. These strong legs can propel emus to speeds of up to 50km/h (31 mph), and are powerful enough to tear down some wire fences. The emu is common over most mainland Australia, although it avoids heavily populated areas, dense forest, and extreme arid areas. They feed on a variety of plants as well as insects including grasshoppers, caterpillars and moth larvae. Females lay large green eggs, however it is the male that will incubate the eggs for around 56 days before they hatch.