food, such as fungi, insects, plant tissue, and small vertebrates, including lizards and frogs. A solitary bird, it pairs only during breeding season. It possibly undertakes seasonal migrations in part of its range. Conservation The dwarf cassowary has been classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN from 2004 to 2013 due to pressure by habitat loss, habitat degradation, being hunted for food, and often being kept in captivity. However, the species was downgraded to Least Concern in 2015, as current populations appear to be stable (although population trends remain generally unknown) and there is substantially less hunting pressure than in the past. References Further reading Bennett, George (1860), Gatherings of a naturalist in Australasia, John Van Voorst, London dwarf cassowary Birds of New Britain Birds of Papua New Guinea Birds of Indonesia dwarf cassowary