9 Scary Birds That Will Make You Cherish Your Spot On The Food Chain

The Southern Cassowary Has Fearsome Giant Claws

cuatrok77/FlickrThe southern cassowary has a helmet-like structure atop its head called a casque — which helps it traverse the thick forests.

As the first flightless bird on our list, the southern cassowary evolved very sharp claws and a helmet-like structure atop their heads known as a casque. Perhaps most remarkable is that this species is more genetically similar to ancient dinosaurs than other birds.

There are three kinds of cassowaries: southern, dwarf, and northern. Southern cassowaries, or Casuarius casuarina, are right at home in the dense, tropical rainforests of New Guinea, northeastern Australia, and Indonesian islands of Ceram and Aru.

While the three varying species generally don’t overlap, this does occur at low population densities in lowland forests, savannas, and riverbanks. The southern variety is not only the physically largest of them all but one of the biggest bird species on the planet.

These scary birds can grow up to nearly 6 feet tall, with males weighing up to 121 pounds — and females up to 167 pounds. The southern cassowary is often called the double- or two-wattled cassowary, as the species has two wattles of red, jiggling skin hanging from its chin.

1 of 13

The southern cassowary is the second biggest bird on planet alive today.siamesepuppy/Flickr

2 of 13

Despite being so heavy, these birds can travel at speeds of up to 31 miles per hour. Mark Gillow/Flickr

3 of 13

The casque also helps this bird establish its dominance and age in the wild.Notes on Hobbies/Flickr

4 of 13

Southern cassowaries feed on fallen fruit, invertebrates, small vertebrates, and carrion.Arjan Haverkamp/Flickr

5 of 13

Female southern cassowaries are typically larger and heavier.Ettore Balocchi/Flickr

6 of 13

Adult plumage and casque growth starts to develop between two and four years of age.Francesco Veronesi/Flickr

7 of 13

Southern cassowaries live in New Guinea and Queensland, Australia. Mark Gillow/Flickr

8 of 13

These birds prefer rainforests, though they can also inhabit nearby mangroves, savannas and fruit plantations with ease.Brian Gratwicke/Flickr

9 of 13

The flightless bird developed strong legs for mobility and to defend itself.cuatrok77/Flickr

10 of 13

These diurnal birds rest during the middle of the day and mainly forage for food in the morning and late afternoon.May Wong/Flickr

11 of 13

This bird produces a very loud territorial roar that can be heard from long distances away.cuatrok77/Flickr

12 of 13

As solitary birds, southern cassowaries have a home range that they defend against other cassowaries.Jenni Douglas/Flickr

13 of 13

While generally shy, these birds can rapidly become aggressive, and have occasionally attacked humans.cuatrok77/Flickr

The Southern Cassowary

View Gallery

Lagging behind only the ostrich in terms of weight, the southern cassowary can still sprint at up to 30 miles per hour. While incapable of flight, this bird is a pretty adept swimmer. Its skin, meanwhile, is made of a tough yet elastic material most comparable to foam.

Their booming calls emanate through the thick foliage of the forest — with their deep bellows occurring at too low a frequency for the human ear. The latter noise is amplified and projected through the casque, which experts believe helps them traverse the tangled forest and attract mates.

Largely dependent on snails, fungi, and fallen fruit, these birds also feed on small reptiles and mammals when protein levels run low. Their feet detect potential nourishment beneath them, while their short, black bill can open wide enough to swallow a meal whole.

Perhaps most fascinating is that this bird's large piles of dung, which contain the seeds of fruit it has eaten, help grow the next generation of plants. Researchers believe southern cassowaries are responsible for helping spread the seeds of hundreds of plants. Not bad for a scary-looking avian.