The cassowary is a flightless bird. It’s native to New Guinea, nearby islands, and northeastern Australia. It is the third tallest and second heaviest living bird species, behind the ostrich and emu. They feed primarily on fruit but will also eat other vegetation, invertebrates and small vertebrates. They are shy and stick mostly to forested areas. The female cassowary is larger and more brightly colored, with a bright blue neck, red wattle, red eyes and a bony crest called a casque on top of their heads. They range from 4-9-5.9′ tall (although some females have reached 6.6′) and weigh up to 129lbs. As of today there is no definite answer as to what the casque is for. Males incubate the eggs and defend the brown striped chicks fiercely for about 9 months. The female has no part in caring for the eggs or the chicks. She goes off to mate with other closely related males. Generally, males tolerate other males. Females however, do not tolerate other females in their territory.