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Australian Brushturkey (Alectura lathami), family Megapodidae, order Galliformes, QLD, Australia

Australian brushturkey (Alectura lathami)

By J. J. Harrison, CC BY 3.0 

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Name: Alectura lathami

Status: Extant

First Described: 1824

Described By: Latham

Classification: Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Galloanserae, Pangalliformes, Galliformes, Megapodiidae  

Alectura, the Australian Brushturkey, is a nonthreatened and very common Megapode found in the rainforests and scrublands of Queensland to New South Wales in Australia, as well as Kangaroo Island. It is the largest living Megapode, reaching about 75 centimeters in length with a wingspan of 85 centimeters long. These birds have black feathers all over their bodies, with red heads, and a prominent tail fan flattened against their rears that give them the superficial similarity to turkeys, hence their name (though they are not closely related besides both being types of landfowl). Like other megapodes, it has the unique trait of laying its eggs in a mound, which is built by a male and then has eggs laid in it by a variety of females he mates with. The Australian Brushturkey lays very large eggs, which hatch fully fledged young that can fly within hours of hatching, and are completely independent. There appear to be some effects of temperature on the sex of the young, like many non-avian modern reptiles, but that effect is not well known. They tend to use the same nesting sight each year. They don’t appear to be afraid of humans, and even steal human picnic food! They eat mainly insects, seeds, and fallen fruit on the ground. 

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Inktober Day 11: Run

Australian Brushturkey (Alectura lathami), male, family Megapodidae, order Galliformes, Australia

Australian Brushturkey (Alectura lathami), male, family Megapodidae, order Galliformes, Australia

Oh yes, this is an absolutely wonderful bird!!!

Australian Brushturkey aka Gweela (Alectura lathami), family Megapodidae, order Galliformes, Newington, NSW, Australia

photograph by JJ Harrison

Australian Brushturkey (Alectura lathami), male, family Megapodidae, order Galliformes, Australia

Photograph by Somnath Datta

Australian Brushturkey (Alectura lathami), family Megapodidae, order Galliformes, Eastern Australia

Australian Brushturkey (Alectura lathami), family Megapodidae, Eastern Australia