Emu

Sounds & Calls

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

The Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is an iconic flightless bird found throughout mainland Australia. At up to 1.9 metres, the Emu is Australia’s tallest bird, only the Ostrich (Struthio camelus) from Africa is taller. This unmistakable species is a common sight in outback Australia as it roams the grasslands and semi-arid plains. It can also be found in dry eucalypt forest and woodlands in more temperate areas. On average, Emus are a little lighter in weight than their shorter, stockier cousin the Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).

Emus make very low-pitched non-vocal sounds including deep rolling grunts and thumping or booming notes which can be audible at up to two kilometres. They can occasionally be heard calling at night.

Due to the low frequency of the Emu’s call, the following samples may be difficult to hear on the small speakers of mobile devices.

Listen to Emu Sounds

The audio in the following video was recorded at night in outback NSW and features the sounds of two emus booming. In the second half of the recording you can hear their huge feet crunching the rocky ground as they pass by.

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Emu – Typical drumming calls

XC132935 This first recording features typical low-frequency drumming notes from an Emu. This is from a captive bird in a wildlife park in Sydney.

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Emu – Drumming and grunts

XC233818 This next recording captures a variety of different calls. The first is a series of eight single ‘thumps’, soon followed by two double notes, then four coarse, rolling grunts. Grey Butcherbird sings in the background. Recorded in Pilliga State Forest, New South Wales.

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Emu – Variation of drumming calls

XC287026 In this third recording you can hear single and double-note drumming, with some very faint rolling grunts in between. Recorded at night at Bowra Station, Queensland.