About Orange-footed Scrubfowl

(meg-ga-POH-dee-us: ‘big foot’ from Gk megas, large and podos, foot; REHN-vaht: for Caspar Reinwardt, Dutch ornithologist)

Kimberly and Top End subspecies - tumulus; FNQ subspecies - yorki

Where to see? Common in monsoon forest habitat and nearby gardens. Easily seen in Darwin’s Botanical Gardens.

Megapodes are unique as they are the only Family that do not build a nest and incubate their eggs with their own body heat. Instead, most megapodes, including the Orange-footed Scrubfowl, build a large mound, heaped up with organic matter and expertly tended so as to generate heat by the composting process.

Habitat

Orange-footed Scrubfowls are monsoon forest specialists, sometimes are seen on the edge of mangroves, and in Darwin often seen in well planted gardens near suitable habitat.

Diet

Diet-Small invertebrates and fallen fruit.

Distribution

Life Cycle

Breeding-Monogamous, female lays a large egg every 9-20 days, incubation period is 50-80 days. Newly hatched chicks are completely independent.
Call-Loud cackling and gurgling.
Where to see? Common in monsoon forest habitat and nearby gardens. Easily seen in Darwin’s Botanical Gardens.