Australian Brushturkey

Identificazione

The Australian brushturkey, Australian brush-turkey, or gweela (Alectura lathami), also commonly called the bush turkey, scrub turkey, or just brushturkey, is a large mound-building bird of the family Megapodiidae. It is found in eastern Australia, ranging from Far North Queensland to the south coast of New South Wales, and has also been introduced to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It is the largest living member of the Megapodiidae and one of three species native to Australia. Despite its name and superficial resemblance to other birds, the Australian brushturkey is not closely related to the American turkey or the Australian bustard (which is also known locally as the bush turkey in central Australia). Its closest relatives are the wattled brushturkey, Waigeo brushturkey, and malleefowl.

Tassonomia

Genere: Alectura; famiglia: Megapodiidae; ordine: Galliformes.

Nome scientifico

Alectura lathami

Autorità

Gray, JE, 1831

Ordine

Galliformi

Famiglia

Megapodiidae

Genere

Alectura

Areale e habitat

The Australian brushturkey inhabits rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests, but can also be found in drier scrubs and open areas. In the northern part of its range, the Australian brushturkey is most common at higher altitudes, but individuals move to the lowland areas in winter. In the south, it is common in both mountain and lowland regions.<p>Brushturkeys are now common in urban environments and can be found in backyards in both Brisbane and Sydney.<p>The range of the Australian brushturkey extends from the top of Cape York to approximately the area around Wollongong.

Migrazione

Specie stanziale

Comportamento

Comportamento migratorio: Specie stanziale.

Conservazione

Tendenza della popolazione: in diminuzione.

Tendenza della popolazione

in diminuzione