Born in the Wild: Emu Trivia Quiz

Welcome to my sixth 'Born in the Wild' quiz. In this quiz, we'll look at the reproductive behaviour of an Australian icon and the world's second-largest bird, the emu.

A multiple-choice quiz by ElusiveDream. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
ElusiveDream

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
372,615

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
505

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. At what age would emu chicks be considered fully-grown and able to breed? Hint

one year

ten years

two years

four years

NEXT>

2. Mum or dad? Who cares for the eggs and chicks when they've hatched?

Answer: (One Word: mum or dad)

NEXT>

3. During the breeding season, males fight for the right to mate.

True

False

NEXT>

4. In which months do emus usually breed in Australia? Hint

May and June

March and April

September and October

July and August

NEXT>

5. How would a male emu show his interest in a potential mate? Hint

by swaying and puffing out his feathers

by singing

by kicking or scratching the ground

by head bobbing

NEXT>

6. What colour are emu eggs? Hint

white

blue

brown

green

NEXT>

7. Emu nests usually consist of what? Hint

sand

tree bark and other vegetation

mud

sticks and rocks

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8. Emu chicks are easily recognized by their colouring. So what colours are they? Hint

white with silver stripes

black with orange stripes

brown with white stripes

grey with black stripes

NEXT>

9. What's the average number of eggs a female emu usually lays? Hint

eleven

twenty-seven

sixteen

five

NEXT>

10. You can get genetically identical emu twins.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. At what age would emu chicks be considered fully-grown and able to breed?

Answer: one year

Emu chicks grow quickly, reaching their full adult size within twelve to fourteen months. They will usually stay with their family group for a further six months before leaving to breed and establish their own territories.

2. Mum or dad? Who cares for the eggs and chicks when they've hatched?

Answer: dad

Usually, after eggs are laid, the female will leave in search of another mate. Thus, it's up to the male to incubate and protect the eggs then care for the chicks when they've hatched.

3. During the breeding season, males fight for the right to mate.

Answer: False

With most land and aquatic animals, the males fight each other for the right to mate. Believe it or not, with emus, it happens the other way around. It's the females who fight for a mate, not the males.

4. In which months do emus usually breed in Australia?

Answer: May and June

Emus form breeding pairs during summer. However, mating doesn't occur until late autumn or early winter.

5. How would a male emu show his interest in a potential mate?

Answer: by swaying and puffing out his feathers

If a male is interested in a parading female, he has a number of ways in which to show it. This includes swaying his body, neck stretching, puffing out his feathers and pecking the ground. If the female sits and raises her rump, it shows the male that she's accepted him as her mate.

However, things can get violent if a female tries to attract the attention of a male who already has a partner, especially if the male shows an interest in the second female.

6. What colour are emu eggs?

Answer: green

When first laid, the eggs are pale green. As the incubation process progresses, the eggs change to their more recognisable dark emerald colour.

7. Emu nests usually consist of what?

Answer: tree bark and other vegetation

Being unable to fly, emus have to nest on the ground. Therefore, they prefer open areas where they have a good view of their surroundings and potential predators.

8. Emu chicks are easily recognized by their colouring. So what colours are they?

Answer: brown with white stripes

Emu chicks are brown with white stripes. The stripes provide camouflage from predators such as dingoes, monitor lizards, foxes and wedge-tailed eagles. As the chicks grow, their stripes disappear.

9. What's the average number of eggs a female emu usually lays?

Answer: eleven

Although the average number is eleven, females have been known to lay as many as twenty eggs.

10. You can get genetically identical emu twins.

Answer: True

As strange as it sounds, this is true. In 1994, an emu farm in Cloyton, New Zealand, produced the world's first genetically identical emu twins.

Source: Author ElusiveDream

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Tizzabelle before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Born In The Wild:

Every day on the land as well as in rivers, lakes and oceans, new lives are beginning. My 'Born In The Wild' series looks at the reproductive habits of various animals.

  1. Born in the Wild: Kangaroo Average
  2. Born in the Wild: Tiger Average
  3. Born in the Wild: Elephant Easier
  4. Born in the Wild: Crocodile Average
  5. Born in the Wild: Dolphin Average
  6. Born in the Wild: Emu Average
  7. Born in the Wild: Whale Average
  8. Born in the Wild: Shark Average

Referenced Topics

World Animals Wild Birds Australian Geography New Zealand Australians: Famous & Historical Lizards Green Wild Birds Australia White Trees Brown

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