Daintree Birds - Southern Cassowary

There are birds aplenty in the Daintree Rainforest. The different landscapes in the Wet Tropics host over 400 bird species and about ten of these are endemic. They range from the large cassowary to tiny sunbirds and flycatchers.

The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) inhabits the Wet Tropics. It is a largely solitary, flightless bird. The male incubates the eggs and raises the chicks which are brown and white striped (stripeys) until they develop all brown plumage when they are about six months old. They mature at about  three years of age. Cassowaries eat a huge variety of fallen rainforest fruit and disperse the seeds over large distances.

Female Southern Cassowary

Cassowary Crossing Cape Tribulation Road

This cassowary was on the Madja Boardwalk. First she preened herself in the forest, fluffing up her feathers. She then went in search of lunch and found some large red seeds around the iconic strangler fig. After she had scoffed many seeds, she sauntered off into the forest and plonked herself on the ground for nap. She totally ignored the half dozen humans frozen on the spot taking photos of her.

Dad and Teenage Chicks Crossing Cape Trib Road

Male Cassowary with Chick

Cassowary Crossing the Road