The Dromornis stirtoni was the biggest bird that ever lived. It was a flightless bird that weighed over 500 kilos and stood nearly 3 metres tall.

Dromornis stirtoni had a huge beak and jaw capable of great force but did not have the beak or claws of a carnivore. No-one really knows for sure what they ate.

They are sometimes referred to as Mihirung birds. 'Mihirung paringmal' is an Aboriginal word from the Tjapwuring people of Western Victoria and it means 'giant bird'. Although they looked like giant emus, the Dromornis stirtoni are more closely related to geese.

Dromornis stirtoni are part of a family of giant birds called Dromornithidae that lived from 15 million years ago until less than 30,000 years ago. Australia had been separated from the big southern landmass of Gondwana for millions of years by this time. The animals of Australia had evolved very slowly in almost complete isolation from the animals of other continents. There were forests and a permanent water supply at Alcoota where the Dromornis birds lived, although the climate was very unpredictable.

Dromornis stirtoni skull, Museum of Central Australia	Dromornis stirtoni tibia and femur compared to the same bones from an Emu, Museum of Central Australia		Reconstruction of Dromornis stirtoni skeleton at the Museum of Central Australia	Dromornis stirtoni foot, Museum of Central Australia