It’s not an ostrich, but it comes close in height and is far more colorful. Cassowaries are flightless giants found in the rainforests of New Guinea and northern Australia. Adults can reach up to 1.7 meters (about 5.6 feet) tall, making them among the tallest birds alive. With turquoise-blue heads, bare skin, a tall casque, and two bright red wattles hanging from the throat, they have a prehistoric look matched by few other birds.

Their bodies are covered in coarse, black feathers that resemble strands of hair. Their small wings are useless for flight and bear only a few stiff, quill-like feathers. Females are significantly larger than males, weighing up to 59 kilograms (130 pounds), while males usually weigh around 34 kilograms (75 pounds). Cassowaries are one of the few bird species where females are larger than males.