Photo: Kr.afol at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Malleefowl
Leipoa ocellata
Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) — Gamebirds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) is a member of the Megapodiidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 1.9 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Megapodiidae Megapodes
- Genus Leipoa
- Species ocellata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.9 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Megapodiidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Malleefowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Malleefowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) is a species of bird in the Megapodiidae family, part of the order Galliformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU sw WA to ec NSW (s Australia).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.9 kg, with a wing length of about 31 cm and a tail of around 19.5 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 629,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Malleefowl?
The Malleefowl is a very large bird that weighs around 1.9 kg.
Where does the Malleefowl live?
The Malleefowl is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU sw WA to ec NSW (s Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Malleefowl belong to?
The Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) belongs to the Megapodiidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Malleefowl eat?
The Malleefowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Malleefowl migrate?
The Malleefowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Malleefowl endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Malleefowl make?
1 real field recording of the Malleefowl — 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 Malleefowl's range?
The Malleefowl has a mapped global range of about 629,000 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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