Melanesian Megapode
NameMelanesian Megapode
Common NameMelanesian Megapode
Scientific NameMegapodius eremita
FamilyMegapodiidae
Wingspan (cm)65
Length (cm)41.5
Weight (g)850
Plumage DetailsThe plumage is uniformly dark, ranging from sooty brown to blackish. It features distinctive bare reddish skin around the eye and on the crown, contrasting with a yellowish bill and pale greyish-white legs and feet.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include loud, far-carrying cackles, squawks, and booming calls, often given at dawn and dusk or when disturbed.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest, coastal
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeEndemic to the Bismarck Archipelago in Papua New Guinea, including New Britain, New Ireland, and various smaller satellite islands.
Identifying Featuresdark plumage, red facial skin, yellow bill, pale strong legs, ground-dwelling
Description
This medium-sized, dark ground-dwelling bird is characterized by its robust build and strong legs. It is known for its unique behavior of building large mounds of vegetation and soil to incubate its eggs using geothermal or solar heat.
