Yellow-legged Brushturkey

Talegalla fuscirostris

A large, black ground bird of lowland rainforest. Bare gray facial skin, black bill and bright yellow legs. It is very shy and forages on the forest floor for fallen fruit, invertebrates and even small lizards. Sleeps up in the trees. Co-occurs with other similar-sized black birds, but bright yellow legs are unmistakable. More often heard than seen. Call a raucous “rawk! rak-rak-rak-rak!” with a longer, lower first note and the subsequent ones repeated.

Identification

A large, black ground bird of lowland rainforest. Bare gray facial skin, black bill and bright yellow legs. It is very shy and forages on the forest floor for fallen fruit, invertebrates and even small lizards. Sleeps up in the trees. Co-occurs with other similar-sized black birds, but bright yellow legs are unmistakable. More often heard than seen. Call a raucous “rawk! rak-rak-rak-rak!” with a longer, lower first note and the subsequent ones repeated.

Taxonomy

Genus: Talegalla; Family: Megapodiidae; Order: Galliformes.

Scientific name
Talegalla fuscirostris
Authority
Salvadori, 1877
Order
Galliformes
Family
Megapodiidae
Genus
Talegalla

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: declining.

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

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