Photo: Meyer, A.B., 1874 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Biak Scrubfowl
Megapodius geelvinkianus
Biak Scrubfowl (Megapodius geelvinkianus) — Gamebirds of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Biak Scrubfowl (Megapodius geelvinkianus) is a member of the Megapodiidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 642 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Megapodiidae Megapodes
- Genus Megapodius
- Species geelvinkianus
Where it lives
Numfor, Biak, and nearby islets (Geelvink Bay is., northwestern New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 642 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Megapodiidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Biak Scrubfowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Biak Scrubfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Biak Scrubfowl (Megapodius geelvinkianus) is a species of bird in the Megapodiidae family, part of the order Galliformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Numfor, Biak, and nearby islets (Geelvink Bay is., nw New Guinea).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 642 g, with a wing length of about 21.2 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2,948 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Biak Scrubfowl?
The Biak Scrubfowl is a large bird that weighs around 642 g.
Where does the Biak Scrubfowl live?
The Biak Scrubfowl is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Numfor, Biak, and nearby islets (Geelvink Bay is., nw New Guinea), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Biak Scrubfowl belong to?
The Biak Scrubfowl (Megapodius geelvinkianus) belongs to the Megapodiidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Biak Scrubfowl eat?
The Biak Scrubfowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Biak Scrubfowl migrate?
The Biak Scrubfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Biak Scrubfowl endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Biak Scrubfowl make?
1 real field recording of the Biak Scrubfowl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Biak Scrubfowl's range?
The Biak Scrubfowl has a mapped global range of about 2,948 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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