Emu

The emu is the second largest bird in the world by height, after the ostrich, reaching up to 6.2 feet and can weigh up to 132 pounds. And like the ostrich, it is flightless. The emu has long legs and can run as fast as 31 miles per hour. 

Emu at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

It is found in large parts of Australia, generally absent only from areas of heavy population, dense forest and arid areas. The neck is pale blue and shows through the feathers. New feathers are almost black, and the shafts and tips stay that way, but the sun fades the rest of each feather to a gray/brown. 

The emu's pale blue neck and reddish/brown eye.

We saw emus at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas. We spent some time stopped along the side of the road feeding several and feeling the peck of their bills against our hands holding feeding pellets. We also were able to caress their necks and feel the loose fitting feathers and underlying skin. The emus were substantially shorter than the ostriches we saw and their pecks against our hands much softer. 

Feeding an emu through the car window.

Feeling the course, fluffy feathers of the neck.

Staring into its eyes and hoping it will not peck anything other than the food pellet in the hand.