What do the emu head feathers look like?

The Australian Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a flightless bird in the Casuariidae family of ratites, and a relative of the Ostrich. It is the second tallest bird in the world, after the Ostrich.

The Emu has soft, shaggy feathers, that are mostly brown or flecked with black. In the red desert of Australia, the feathers have a reddish or red-bown colour. It does not fly, but it can run fast – and it flaps its wings as it runs.

Its neck is pale blue with only sparse, small feathers, that are almost invisible.

Its head feathers, that also appear at the back of its neck, are dark, short, shaggy, and crested. Between the beak and the crown of its head, the head feathers are longer, wavy or curly, and often hang over its eyes. 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls 

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM