Australian Brush-turkey
Alectura lathami
A large ground-dwelling megapode of eastern Australia, found in rainforests, wet eucalypt forests, gardens, and suburban parks. It spends much of the day scratching through leaf litter for fallen fruit, seeds, insects, and other small invertebrates. Males build and tend huge composting mounds, using the heat of rotting vegetation to incubate the eggs. Although capable of short flight to roost in trees, it is best known for powerful legs, persistent digging, and bold behavior around humans.
- Type
- Burrow
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- Australian Brush-turkey