Wild Emus at The Lilly Pilly Tree

[briefvisit]

https://vimeo.com/1094294767/887219999f?ts=0&share=copy

Here are the four Cheeky Chicks. There is good practice here for readers. See how well you tell identify different ones. For example, the first second of the clip clearly shows the different tail plumages of the two on right. Only one of the four has any ‘ruff’ appearing about its neck (which sometimes disappears in winter – Offsider’s has gone). And the plumage on their heads and necks is also distinguishable.

 

[briefvisit]

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[Finchbreeder]

Watching your videos has taught me that there is far more colour variation in Emu plumage that I had ever realised.
Some of them look a little like mobile haystacks and some like a patch of dead bush. I would think the 2nd type would be safer from predators.
There's a couple of names - Bush and Haystack.

 

[AntiqueB]

Yes, some are very light!

I can't believe the Cheeky Chicks are still together! Things have been happening in the house clearing!

Random looks unique to me. His legs are light, but his feet are dark. Or is that just the lighting?

 

[briefvisit]

Good morning, Finchbreeder and Antique.

Still catching-up notes this morning. [The breeding-pair here at first first light. And Offsider later.]


So yes, for Normal Human Beings, emus all look the same. But once you begin to become interested, size and personality and behaviour and distinguishing the birds all becomes a big blob.

Yes, the lighting/wet feathers is a real issue. For example, a 'sandy' bird pretty much stops looking sandy if really wet.

 

[briefvisit]

Keep watching, Antique. Yes, wet = dark; but there are plenty of differences you'll learn to pick.

Tail plumage is one.

Another is the pattern of feathers and (blue) skin on the neck and head. Felicity has had a kiss curl on her head since she was a chick. It has remained unchanged.

Posture is a factor: different emus hold themselves differently

 

[briefvisit]

Note on Undersized Emu:

she is smart, and has a fine thick plumage. She makes the Cheeky Chicks look positively scrawny.

Smart? U.E. somehow understands 'The Wheat Game' better. She will run thirty yards to get to wheat. And although too small to bully other birds, her practicality in driven off/sneak straight back/driven off/sneak straight back is evident.

She seems to understand that it's a game!

This is an observational first. We'd normally see U.E. as merely a less powerful bird -- she can't/won't stand her ground against the other females. However, her willingness to run around and around and around the house-clearing a few yards ahead of her vengeful pursuers seems to be a perfectly workable strategy. She gets more than her share of wheat, and she and her consort get to graze quite often.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/emu-ostrich-portrait-isolated-on-white-2253846259

Ah! This works!

This bird has a half of the classic head/neck model. You see the blue on the upper neck and head.

Note that this bird has a sort of 'buzz cut' to its head feathers. Quite distinctive.

 

[briefvisit]

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/close-view-emu-photo-by-gunnar-135081374

Here's another photo. No prominent blue on the neck. And a nice little 'feather do' going on up top.

 

[briefvisit]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/describing-your-emu.771297/