Australian Brush Turkey

Australian Brush-turkey, Alectura lathami

The Australian Brush Turkey can be spotted along the eastern and northeastern coast of Australia. This species has a large variety of habitats it can be found in from rainforests to drier scrubs, from mountains to lowland regions. The family Megapodiidae of which the brush turkey belongs are often referred to as mound builders. They passively incubate the eggs, burying them under mounds of decaying matter which the chicks must then dig out of. For the Australian Brush Turkey, the males maintain the mound which several females lay their eggs in. The bill of the bird is used to assess temperature. Matter is added or removed as needed, and holes are dug for ventilation when the necessity arises. Hatchlings are fully feathered once they emerge from the mound and are given no additional parental care. This species is often referred to as a nuisance as it commonly damages gardens while searching for food. Unlike it's cousin of the Galliformes order, the Wild Turkey, the Australian Brush Turkey is known for its bad taste and is therefore not hunted.