What the sources say
EmuDromaius novaehollandiae
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Emu profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 70 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
Profile updated
Source
01
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Emu. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
- The page saysA flightless bird
- The source says
the emu belongs to a group of flightless running birds known as ratites
Note: tagline - The page saysThe dad who sits for eight weeks
- The source says
He stays on the nest for the next eight weeks, getting up only to turn the eggs and tidy the nest.
- The page saysFathers that sit on the nest for about 8 weeks
- The source says
He stays on the nest for the next eight weeks, getting up only to turn the eggs and tidy the nest.
Note: stats.superpower; 8 weeks is the source's eight weeks (56 days at the Smithsonian) - The page saysfor about eight weeks
- The source says
He stays on the nest for the next eight weeks, getting up only to turn the eggs and tidy the nest.
- The page saysacross mainland Australia
- The source says
Emus are common throughout most of mainland Australia
Note: stats.habitat - The page saysThe emu is the second-largest living bird, after the ostrich
- The source says
The emu is the second-largest living bird in the world (the ostrich is the largest).
- The page saysAn adult stands 1.5 to 1.9 m tall
- The source says
Height: 4.9 to 6.2 feet (1.5 to 1.9 meters)
- The page saysuseless for flight
- The source says
Emus have tiny, useless wings
- The page saysEach foot has three toes and fewer bones and muscles than a flying bird's
- The source says
Their feet have three toes and fewer bones and muscles than those of flying birds.
- The page saysan emu can sprint at 48 km/h for quite a distance
- The source says
can sprint at 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour for quite a distance
- The page saysOne stride can be almost 2.7 m long
- The source says
the emu’s stride can be almost 9 feet (2.7 meters) long
- The page saysAn emu can also jump 2.1 m straight up
- The source says
jump 7 feet (2.1 meters) straight up
- The page saysIf it must defend itself, it strikes and rips with heavy feet and nails
- The source says
If they must defend themselves, emus can strike and rip with their heavy feet and nails.
- The page saysA hiss warns off dingoes
- The source says
A hiss, described by one of our animal behavior specialists as bloodcurdling, is effective at warning off dingoes.
- The page saysit can rattle its stiff tail feathers to scare predators away
- The source says
they are stiff, and the bird can rattle them to scare off predators, such as dingoes
- The page saysMost birds grow one feather per follicle
- The source says
Most birds have one feather per follicle
- The page saysan emu grows a double-shafted feather from each one
- The source says
the emu grows a double-shafted feather from each follicle
- The page saysTwo shafts per follicle
- The source says
the emu grows a double-shafted feather from each follicle
- The page saysIts barbs sit far apart and lack the usual hooks that attach to the other barbs
- The source says
an emu feather’s barbs are widely spaced and don't have the usual hooks that attach to the other barbs
- The page saysEach hangs loose and gives the plumage a hairlike look
- The source says
each barb hangs loosely and gives emu feathers a hairlike appearance
- The page saysThe female lays 5 to 15 dark green eggs in a nest of twigs, leaves and grass on the ground
- The source says
The male builds a rough nest of twigs, leaves, and grass on the ground where the female lays 5 to 15 avocado-green eggs over several days.
- The page saysdark green
- The source says
The eggs are dark green and shiny
- The page saysOne egg equals 10 to 12 chicken eggs in weight and volume
- The source says
One emu egg has the same weight and volume as 10 to 12 chicken eggs!
- The page saysgets up only to turn the eggs and tidy the nest
- The source says
getting up only to turn the eggs and tidy the nest
- The page sayshe can lose up to one-third of his body weight
- The source says
The male loses up to one-third of his body weight.
- The page saysthey can walk minutes after hatching
- The source says
They can walk just minutes after hatching
- The page saysEmus live across most of mainland Australia
- The source says
Emus are common throughout most of mainland Australia
- The page saysSeeds swallowed whole often come out whole
- The source says
Seeds eaten whole often come out whole; as the emu wanders about, it leaves fertilized seed-carrying deposits behind in its droppings.
- The page saysThey talk with a pouch in the throat that is part of the windpipe
- The source says
The emu has a pouch in its throat that is part of the bird's windpipe and is used for communication.
- The page saysdeep booming and drumming sounds that carry up to 2 km
- The source says
the emu can make deep booming, drumming, and grunting sounds. These calls are usually made during courtship and the breeding season, heard up to 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) away!
- The page saysAbout 13 cm long and 9 cm wide
- The source says
Egg size: 5 x 3.5 inches (13 x 9 centimeters)
- The page saysbetween 450 and 650 g
- The source says
Egg weight: 1 to 1.4 pounds (450 to 650 grams)
- The page saysThe shell is shiny and dark green, with small pits on the surface
- The source says
The eggs are dark green and shiny, with small pits on the surface.
- The page saysthe San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance describes the population as currently stable, though drought and wildfires could affect it
- The source says
While the emu population is currently considered stable, drought and wildfires are potential threats that could impact them.
- The page saysThe emu subspecies that lived in Tasmania is gone. It died out around 1865, after Europeans arrived
- The source says
The emu subspecies that lived in Tasmania became extinct around 1865, following the arrival of Europeans.
- The page saysFemales are larger and heavier than males
- The source says
Adult female emus are larger and heavier than the males.
- The page saysFeathers grow from follicles, just like hairs
- The source says
Just like hairs, feathers grow from follicles.
- The page saysFlocks often travel long distances for food and water
- The source says
Flocks often travel long distances for food and water.
- The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
- The source says
If they must defend themselves, emus can strike and rip with their heavy feet and nails.
Note: #998; ADW: kicks "capable of breaking through fences or maiming predators". No source reports a person seriously hurt, so Medium, not High.
Source
02
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Emu. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
- The page saysA flightless bird whose father sits on the eggs for eight weeks without eating or drinking
- The source says
During incubation, which lasts 56 days, the male doesn't eat, drink or defecate.
Note: tagline - The page saysFathers that sit on the nest for about 8 weeks without eating or drinking
- The source says
During incubation, which lasts 56 days, the male doesn't eat, drink or defecate.
Note: stats.superpower - The page saysWoodland, heathland, shrubland and sand plains
- The source says
Emus live in eucalyptus forest, woodland, heath land, desert shrub lands and sand plains.
Note: stats.habitat - The page saysThe wings are tiny, under 20 cm long
- The source says
their wings are tiny, reduced to less than 8 inches (20 centimeters)
- The page saysDuring incubation he does not eat, drink or defecate
- The source says
During incubation, which lasts 56 days, the male doesn't eat, drink or defecate.
- The page saysThe chicks hatch striped in black, brown and cream, which helps them blend into long grass
- The source says
Chicks have longitudinal stripes with black, brown and cream, so they blend easily into long grass and dense shrubbery.
- The page saysThe father stays with them for about five to seven months
- The source says
The male stays with the chicks for about five to seven months.
- The page saysand nowhere else
- The source says
Emus live only in Australia, where they are widespread.
- The page saysreach deserts only after heavy rain
- The source says
It is found in desert areas only after heavy rains have caused growth of herbs and grasses and heavy fruiting of shrubs.
- The page saysThey also swallow pebbles of up to 45 g, which help grind food
- The source says
Emus ingest large pebbles up to 1.6 ounces (45 grams) to help their gizzards grind up food.
- The page saysthey seem to steer mainly by the sight of rain-bearing clouds
- The source says
They appear to depend mainly on the sight of rain-bearing clouds
- The page saysIn the wild an emu lives five to ten years, and longer in human care
- The source says
The emu lives five to ten years and longer in human care.
- The page saysthe Smithsonian puts males at 50 to 55 kg and females about 5 kg more
- The source says
Males weigh 110 to 121 pounds (50 to 55 kilograms), and females weigh about 11 pounds (5 kilograms) more than males.
Note: sources disagree (SDZ 30-55 kg, ADW 36-40 kg); the page attributes the Smithsonian's sexed figures rather than blending ranges - The page saysAn emu father sits on the nest for about eight weeks
- The source says
During incubation, which lasts 56 days, the male doesn't eat, drink or defecate.
Note: vibe.reason animal clause, same source as the body claim "A flightless bird whose father sits on the eggs for eight we" - The page saysdoes not eat, drink or defecate the whole time
- The source says
During incubation, which lasts 56 days, the male doesn't eat, drink or defecate.
Note: vibe.reason animal clause, same source as the body claim "During incubation he does not eat, drink or defecate" - The page saysweightKg: 55
- The source says
Males weigh 110 to 121 pounds (50 to 55 kilograms), and females weigh about 11 pounds (5 kilograms) more than males.
Note: #998; name guess put it Heavy
Source
03
Boles
Boles. Emu. Australian Museum.
- The page saysFruit, seeds, young shoots, insects and small animals
- The source says
Emus eat fruits, seeds, growing shoots of plants, insects, other small animals, and animal droppings.
Note: stats.diet - The page saysthen wanders off
- The source says
The female wanders away and leaves the male to perform all the incubation.
- The page saysThey eat fruit, seeds, young shoots, insects, small animals and even animal droppings
- The source says
Emus eat fruits, seeds, growing shoots of plants, insects, other small animals, and animal droppings.
- The page saysEmus can move hundreds of kilometres, sometimes 15 to 25 km a day
- The source says
They are known to move hundreds of kilometres, sometimes at rates of 15 km to 25 km per day.
- The page saysThe male does the sitting
- The source says
The female wanders away and leaves the male to perform all the incubation.
Source
04
Shorter
Shorter. Dromaius novaehollandiae (emu). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysHe stays alive on stored fat
- The source says
they are able to survive on stored fat alone
- The page saysWandering emus spread the seeds of many low-growing plants as they go
- The source says
Emus disperse seeds of many low growing plants over wide ranges, because of their nomadic migratory patterns.
- The page saysIn the wild an emu lives five to ten years
- The source says
Status: wild 5 to 10 years
- The page saysIn the early 1930s a large migration of emus reached an agricultural town and ate or spoiled vast wheat fields
- The source says
In the early 1930s, a large migration of emus to an agricultural town ended violently. The emus spoiled or consumed vast wheat fields.
- The page saysThe military was called in to wipe them out, in what some call the "Emu War"
- The source says
The military was called in to eradicate the emus in what some call the "Emu War".
- The page saysthe operation failed. Natural camouflage and a talent for fleeing let the emus avoid detection
- The source says
However the operation was unsuccessful. The emus have natural camouflage and ability to flee, which allowed them to avoid detection.
- The page saysSort of
- The source says
The military was called in to eradicate the emus in what some call the "Emu War".
Note: faq 1 opener: a military operation, called a war by some - The page saystags: grassland
- The source says
Savannah forest, grassland, and subtropical climates are preferred.
Note: #998
Source
05
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018
Dromaius novaehollandiae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22678117A131902466.
- The page saysLeast Concern
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
Note: stats.conservationStatus - The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.