Photo: Nicolas Huet / Jean Gabriel Prêtre / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Dusky Megapode
Megapodius freycinet
Dusky Megapode (Megapodius freycinet) — 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 Dusky Megapode (Megapodius freycinet) is a member of the Megapodiidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 642 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 freycinet
Where it lives
Northern, central Moluccas and Raja Ampat Is. (northwest of New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 642 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Megapodiidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dusky Megapode is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Dusky Megapode is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dusky Megapode (Megapodius freycinet) is a species of bird in the Megapodiidae family, part of the order Galliformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU n, c Moluccas and Raja Ampat Is. (nw of New Guinea).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 642 g, with a wing length of about 21 cm and a tail of around 7.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 60,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dusky Megapode?
The Dusky Megapode is a large bird that weighs around 642 g.
Where does the Dusky Megapode live?
The Dusky Megapode is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU n, c Moluccas and Raja Ampat Is. (nw of New Guinea), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Dusky Megapode belong to?
The Dusky Megapode (Megapodius freycinet) belongs to the Megapodiidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Dusky Megapode eat?
The Dusky Megapode is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Dusky Megapode migrate?
The Dusky Megapode is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dusky Megapode 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 Dusky Megapode make?
1 real field recording of the Dusky Megapode — 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 Dusky Megapode's range?
The Dusky Megapode has a mapped global range of about 60,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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