Dromaius novaehollandiae
Reproduction
Emus pair up for breeding in December and
January and mate
when the
climate gets cooler. The mating will be delayed if the
rains are late. This is because mating starts right before
the rainy season.
During the courtship, both emus start to strut, circle, ruffle out their feathers, and cock their heads. This cocking of the head makes the emus have a shy look to them. Then the male emu does a mating dance with movement of his head (swaying the head from side to side) while circling around the female. The female emus strut around a male making a noise that tells the male emu she is ready to mate.
The male emus build the nest. The females lay an egg every
second or third day of mating. Usually there are around 8 to 10
eggs that will be laid. These 8 to 10 eggs are known as a clutch. Females
lay eggs in April, May, and June.
The female emu may go off and find another mate once she is done mating with the other male.
The male incubates the eggs by sitting on them only standing to turn the eggs. For eight weeks, the male doesn't eat or drink anything. He relies on his body fat and the morning dew to keep him alive until the eggs hatch. The eggs take about 56 days to hatch.
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