Moluccan Megapode or Painted Megapodes aka Wallace’s or Moluccan Scrubfowl
The Moluccan Megapodes, Eulipoa wallacei, is also known as Wallace’s Scrubfowl, Moluccan Scrubfowl, or Painted Megapode.
The genus Eulipoa is monotypic (one single species), but the Moluccan Megapode is sometimes placed in Megapodius instead.
Description
It is a small, approximately 31cm long, olive-brown megapode.
Both sexes are similar with olive-brown plumage, bluish-grey below, white undertail coverts, brown iris, bare pink facial skin, bluish-yellow bill and dark olive legs. There are light grey stripes on reddish-maroon feathers on its back.
The young has brownish plumage, a black bill, legs, and hazel iris.
Distribution / Range
An Indonesian endemic, the Moluccan Megapode is confined to the hill and mountain forests Maluku Islands of Halmahera, Buru, Seram, Ambon, Ternate, Haruku and Bacan. It is also found in Misool Island of West Papua province.
Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range, and overhunting in some areas, the Moluccan Megapode is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Breeding / Nesting
The Moluccan Megapode is the only megapode known to lay its eggs nocturnally. The nesting grounds are usually located on sun-exposed beaches or volcanic soils.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Eulipoa wallacei. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 7 February 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable
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