The Northern Cassowary is a large flightless bird with a casque and neck wattles that lives in lowland New Guinea.
It has a large casque, and the neck wattles vary in color by region, including red and gold.
Northern Cassowaries inhabit New Guinea’s northern lowland forests. This large flightless bird has one neck wattle and passes swallowed fruit seeds in its droppings.
A Jayapura study examined 147 droppings collected in 2011 and 2012. Its 2014 report identified ten palm species; seeds occurred in altered habitats too, but were least numerous in logged forest.
Palms supply food while the birds move seeds. Forest alteration and hunting in lowland landscapes make protection of both fruiting plants and cassowaries relevant to retaining these links.
IUCN Red List (conservation institution account) · Least Concern · Global
Forest loss and hunting, including access opened by logging, are pressures. Conservation priorities include managing hunting and retaining forests where these seed dispersers can persist.