What Is a Group of Emus Called?
A term shared with kangaroos and koalas, and just as Australian as the bird itself.
A group of emus is called a mob (Dromaius), the same broad Australian term used for kangaroos and several other native animals seen moving together across the outback.
What Is a Group of Emus Called?
Mob is the term used for a group of emus, the same general-purpose Australian English term applied to kangaroos, wallabies, and several other native species commonly seen in loose groups. Emu groups tend to be informal and fluid, with no strict hierarchy, often coming together around abundant food or water rather than forming permanent, tightly bonded groups.
Where Did the Name Come From?
“Mob” entered Australian English vocabulary generally as a term for a loose gathering of animals, adopted broadly across native marsupials and, eventually, emus as well, rather than being coined specifically for the bird. It reflects Australian usage more than the older English “terms of venery” tradition, since emus, native only to Australia, weren’t part of that medieval vocabulary at all.
Emu Facts
- Second-tallest bird: emus are the second-tallest living bird species after the ostrich, standing up to 6 feet tall.
- Fast runners: despite being flightless, emus can run at speeds up to 30 mph, using their long legs to cover ground quickly.
- Devoted fathers: male emus incubate the eggs alone for about 8 weeks, barely eating or drinking during that time, and raise the chicks after hatching.
- Nomadic movement: emus travel long distances across the Australian outback in search of food and water, sometimes covering hundreds of miles.
Example Sentences
- A mob of emus grazed steadily across the open grassland.
- The farmer watched a mob of emus wander past the fence line at dusk.
🧠 Test Your Emu Knowledge
Three quick questions. See what stuck.
1. What is a group of emus called?
2. Which parent incubates emu eggs?
3. How fast can emus run?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of emus called?
A mob, the same general Australian English term used for kangaroos and other native animals.
Why is it called a mob?
Mob is a broadly applied Australian term for loose animal gatherings, extended to emus rather than coined specifically for them.
Do male or female emus incubate the eggs?
Male emus incubate the eggs alone for about 8 weeks, barely eating or drinking during that time.
How fast can emus run?
Emus can run at speeds up to 30 mph despite being flightless.
A Term as Australian as the Bird
A mob of emus fits right alongside kangaroos and wallabies in the everyday language of the outback.