New Guinea Scrubfowl
Megapodius decollatus
New Guinea Scrubfowl (Megapodius decollatus) — 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 New Guinea Scrubfowl (Megapodius decollatus) is a member of the Megapodiidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 666 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Megapodiidae Megapodes
- Genus Megapodius
- Species decollatus
Where it lives
Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., northwestern New Guinea), north to northern slope of southeastern New Guinea, Tarawai and Manam (north of northeastern New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 666 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Megapodiidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The New Guinea 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 New Guinea Scrubfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The New Guinea Scrubfowl (Megapodius decollatus) belongs to the Megapodiidae family of the order Galliformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., nw New Guinea), n to n slope of se New Guinea, Tarawai and Manam (n of ne New Guinea).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 666 g, with a wing length of about 22.5 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 240,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the New Guinea Scrubfowl?
The New Guinea Scrubfowl is a large bird that weighs around 666 g.
Where does the New Guinea Scrubfowl live?
The New Guinea Scrubfowl is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., nw New Guinea), n to n slope of se New Guinea, Tarawai and Manam (n of ne New Guinea), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the New Guinea Scrubfowl belong to?
The New Guinea Scrubfowl (Megapodius decollatus) belongs to the Megapodiidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the New Guinea Scrubfowl eat?
The New Guinea Scrubfowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the New Guinea Scrubfowl migrate?
The New Guinea Scrubfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the New Guinea Scrubfowl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the New Guinea Scrubfowl make?
1 real field recording of the New Guinea Scrubfowl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the New Guinea Scrubfowl's range?
The New Guinea Scrubfowl has a mapped global range of about 240,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Megapodiidae
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
More in Game Birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern