A JOGGER in the US has picked up an unusual running mate with an emu randomly following him on his way.

A Virginia Beach animal shelter supervisor said residents contacted the city after the tall, gangly, flightless Australian bird showed up out of the blue.

It turns out he'd merely drifted away from home, as emus are legal to own in the area.

Animal shelter supervisor Wayne Gilbert said animal control officers managed to locate the runaway bird and return him to his owner.