Dean M. Chriss
Photography
Emu Pair in Wetland, Victoria, Australia

Emu Pair in Wetland, Victoria, Australia

(Click image to enlarge)

The emu is the second largest living bird and the largest found in Australia. Its height averages 1.75 meters (5.7 feet). Males weigh 50 to 55 kilograms (110 to 121 pounds), and females weigh about 5 kilograms (11 pounds) more.

Emus live only in Australia where they are widespread. Emus can live close to Australia's big cities but they are no longer found where native vegetation has been cleared for agricultural land. Subspecies that once existed in Tasmania and King Island are now extinct. Habitat destruction for agriculture is a huge problem for all of Australia's native plant and animal species.