General Information

The orange-footed scrub fowl is a small megapode belonging to the family Megapodiidae.

Physical Description

It is a terrestrial bird the size of a domestic chicken, about 40 centimeters from head to tail. They are dark-colored with strong orange legs and a pointed crest at the back of the head. Their breast is a sooty brown color and turns to more of a burnt orange around the largest part of their body. 

Diet

The Orange-footed Scrub fowl feeds on seeds, fallen fruit, and terrestrial invertebrates. 

Habitat

This species is comprised of five subspecies found on many islands in Wallacea, southern New Guinea, and northern Australia. The scrub fowl roams in a range of forest and scrub habitats and has colonized many small islands throughout its range. In general, populations seem to be stable which is why the conservation status of the species is considered to be of least concern.

Reproduction

As with other megapodes, it nests in large mounds of sand, leaf litter and other debris where the heat generated by the decomposition of organic material serves to incubate the eggs. The mother doesn't stay with the eggs though; as soon as the babies are born, they make their way out of the nest and fly soon after. Construction and maintenance of the mounds, which may reach 4.5 m in height and 9 m in diameter, takes place throughout the year.