Biak Megapode
Megapodius geelvinkianus
A small, dark scrubfowl of forest and disturbed habitats on the Bay Islands where the only member of its family. Sooty gray plumage, bare red to gray face, slight crest at the back of the head, reddish legs, and yellowish bill. It scrapes the forest floor with its large feet to uncover invertebrates. More often heard than seen. Vocal, giving varied parrotlike squeals. A common call is 2 tuneless yelps similar to New Guinea Scrubfowl, the first note higher than the second.
Identification
This bird measures 36 cm (14 in) long. Its plumage is largely dark grey. It has a slight crest and a reddish or bluish face. Legs are red or dark grey.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Megapodius geelvinkianus
- Authority
- Meyer, AB, 1874
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Megapodiidae
- Genus
- Megapodius
Range and habitat
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.<p>Some taxonomists consider this to be a subspecies of the dusky megapode, others as a subspecies of the orange-footed scrubfowl, but is increasingly looked at as a distinct species.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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