Megapodius cumingii
The Philippine Megapode, or Tabon Scrubfowl, is a fascinating gamebird renowned for its unique nesting strategy. Growing to about 32-37 cm (13-15 inches) in length, it exhibits a drab yet effective camouflage, typically olive-brown to dark brown across its body, with slightly paler underparts and a greyish head and neck. A distinguishing feature is its bright reddish-orange facial skin and powerful, yellowish-orange legs and feet, perfectly adapted for digging. Taxonomically, it belongs to th...
Typically found in lowland primary and secondary forests, forest edge, and dense scrub, often near coastal areas, up to elevations of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet). They prefer areas with loose soil or sand for mound building.
Primarily omnivorous, feeding on fallen fruits, seeds, invertebrates (insects, worms), and small vertebrates like lizards, foraged by scratching through forest litter.
Philippine Megapodes are generally crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk, spending their days foraging on the forest floor or tending to their impressive incubation mounds. Foraging involves vigorous scratching and digging with their powerful feet, sifting through leaf litter and soil for...
The Philippine Megapode is widely distributed across the Philippine archipelago and extends into parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Its core breeding range covers most major islands of the Philippines, including Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, Negros, Panay, and numerous smaller islands, from sea level u...
Least Concern
- Philippine Megapode chicks are arguably the most precocial birds in the world, emerging from their mounds fully feathered, able to run, and even fly within hours of hatching. - Unlike most birds, megapodes do not incubate their eggs with body heat; instead, they construct massive mounds of deca...