Tabon Scrubfowl (Megapodius cumingii)

Family: MEGAPODIIDAE

Megapodes are an Australian family of ground-living birds which use their large, powerful feet for dragging and piling mounds, and digging pits in which to lay their eggs. The parent birds do not brood the eggs which are incubated by passive, natural warmth (from solar or geothermal heat, or decaying vegetation). On hatching the young birds are fledged and can fly immediately. Adult birds have mournful growling calls and roost in trees.

There are two species of megapodes in the Greater Sundas.

Description: medium-sized (35 cm), brown and grey fowl with scarlet face. Upperparts brown, underparts grey. There is almost no crest and the tail is short. The sexes are alike. Immature birds are brown, barred and blotched with black.

Iris - brown; bill- yellow; feet - blackish, reddish at back.

Voice: Repeated mournful miaows like a distressed cat, given in the evening.

Distribution and status: Formerly common on most of the small islands around Borneo, and on the mainland coast in a few localities in Sabah. Now rather scarce due to excessive collecting of eggs.

Habits: Single birds or pairs scurry about the forest floor, scrub, and even mangroves, scratching for insects on the ground. When disturbed, run away or fly low over the ground. Roost in low trees at night. Eggs are incubated in huge mounds of dry, rotting vegetation. The nests are built up over many years, sometimes several pairs using the same mound and helping to drag new leaves, twigs, and dead wood with their feet. The female bird tunnels into the top of the mound and lays a large, pinkish red egg which becomes pale pink as it ages. Pigs, monitor lizards, and man raid the nests for food. The fully feathered young finally emerges about 70 days later, already able to fly.