Philippine Megapode
Megapodius cumingii
Odd-looking partridge-like bird with a stunted head. Brown wings, gray underparts, and yellow bill. Found on small offshore islands and within hilly and montane forests on larger islands. Forages on the ground, scraping about in the leaf litter and detritus. Gives long, drawn-out wails somewhat akin to that of emergency vehicles. Like other megapodes, builds mounds and digs burrows to incubate eggs.
Identification
It has a brown back and a blue-grey front. It has bare vermillion skin round its eyes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Megapodius cumingii
- Authority
- Dillwyn, 1853
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Megapodiidae
- Genus
- Megapodius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Bolivian Blackbird
Oreopsar bolivianus
Large, brown-winged blackbird of dry valleys in the high Andes of central and northern Bolivia. Prefers sparsely vegetated areas, such as Polylepis woodland, agricultural areas, towns, cactus forest, and scrublands. Brown wings are distinctive, but note that second-year blackbirds of other species (Chopi Blackbird, Shiny Cowbird) can show contrastingly brown retained juvenile wing feathers. Generally forages singly or in small groups, and sings from exposed perches. Song a simple, repeated two-part “pe-chew” given 3-8 times.
Rufous-headed Chachalaca
Ortalis erythroptera
Large chickenlike bird with a long tail. No similar species in limited range; much smaller than Crested Guan and warmer brown than Sickle-winged Guan. Note contrasting reddish-brown head; wings and tail also rufous but more easily visible in flight. Nearly endemic to Ecuador, but occurs in extreme southwestern Colombia and northwestern Peru. Look for pairs or small groups in the mid-levels of forest and edge, up to around 1,800 m. Like other chachalacas, has a very raucous and exceptionally annoying voice.
Gray-legged Tinamou
Crypturellus duidae
Unobtrusive, poorly-known tinamou. Mostly rusty-colored with a scaly back and wings. Females are more boldly marked on the back and wings than males. Found at the edge of dense forests and especially in white sand forests. The song is a rather short double whistle: “whoo-whoooooooo.” The similar Variegated Tinamou has a grayish head and more barring on the back.
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