cassowary

Everyday

A cassowary is a very large flightless bird from the rainforests of north-eastern Australia and New Guinea, with black feathers, a bright blue neck, red wattles and a tall hard crest called a casque on its head. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about Australian animals and rainforests, the cassowary is a key seed spreader: it eats fallen fruit and drops the seeds far away in its droppings. It has sharp dagger-like claws and can be dangerous if people get too close or feed it, so safety signs in Queensland warn drivers and walkers. The father sits on the eggs and raises the chicks. Phrases: southern cassowary, cassowary crossing, be cass-o-wary (a safety pun).

Examples

• The cassowary lives in the rainforests of Queensland. tree →
• A cassowary cannot fly, but it can run fast and jump. tree →
• Never feed a cassowary; it can kick and hurt you. tree →
• The cassowary's blue neck and red wattles are very bright. tree →
• Cassowaries help the forest by spreading seeds. tree →
• The father cassowary looks after the stripy chicks. tree →
• A road sign warned drivers to watch for cassowaries. tree →
• The cassowary has a bony helmet called a casque. tree →

Note

Countable: one cassowary, two cassowaries (y changes to ies). Pronounced «KASS-uh-wair-ee». It is a ratite, a flightless bird, like the emu, ostrich, rhea and kiwi. Safety: it is one of the few birds that can seriously hurt people, so keep your distance.