Meet the bird that can kill with a kick and it’s closely related to dinosaurs

Imagine being on a tour to northern Australia or New Guinea and while walking through the dense, humid rainforests you find yourself at the crossroads amid sudden rustle of leaves and next you catch a glimpse of a tall bird with electric-blue skin, fiery red wattles, and jet-black feathers.
This might be one of the most scary experiences of your life and might seem to be a scene from a lost world, but this was the most dangerous bird that stood your way.
The bird is so ancient-looking, that it seems to be picked up from the pages of prehistory and is often called a “living dinosaur”. Apart from that it is also known to be one of the most fearsome survivors of the world.


Cassowaries are known as the most dangerous bird in the world, not because they feed on human veins but because their powerful kicks are sufficient to put a man downl. While the title may sound exaggerated, that is only until one learns of its weapon-like claws, bursts of explosive speed, and capacity to defend itself with killing force. In fact, the bird’s lineage traces directly back to the age of dinosaurs, and its features and behaviors seem similar to that of the primeval past.


Cassowaries are flightless birds that are native to Northern Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Despite their shy nature, cassowaries are known to be the most lethal birds on Earth, largely due to their huge size, strength, and defensive instincts. While they rarely attack unprovoked, the damage they can do is no joke. In 2019, a tragic incident in Florida showed their potential danger when a cassowary fatally injured its keeper at a private bird collection.

Standing up to six feet tall and weighing as much as 160 pounds, the Southern Cassowary is the largest of its kind. These powerful birds are not only fast, in fact they are capable of sprinting up to 31 miles per hour and can also leap 7 feet into the air and swim with ease. But what truly makes them formidable are their legs, which are “used for delivering strong kicks,” and their 4-inch, dagger-like claws that can “slice and puncture any animal that is a threat, including humans” , according to Unsplash.com.

Cassowaries mainly feed on fallen rainforest fruit but are known to eat insects, fungi, and even carrion. Interestingly, they have a unique method of fishing, which is sitting in streams and spreading their feathers to trap fish.
Beyond their physical power, cassowaries play an important ecological and cultural role. Indigenous Australian groups often include cassowaries in traditional ceremonies and Dreamtime stories, and now are also a part in conservation efforts using both ancestral knowledge and science.