Moluccan Scrubfowl vs Dusky Scrubfowl
Eulipoa wallacei compared with Megapodius freycinet
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Moluccan Scrubfowl | Dusky Scrubfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulipoa wallacei | Megapodius freycinet |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Megapodiidae | Megapodiidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.6 cm (15.2 in) | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 503.3333333333333 g (17.75 oz) | 644.5 g (22.73 oz) |
| Diet | Forages in Moluccan island forests for fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates. Uses strong legs to … | Omnivorous ground forager in New Guinea and island forests; eats fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Moluccan Scrubfowl
Produces a loud, wailing cackle and deep booming territorial calls. The penetrating, wailing screech is startling and carries far across Moluccan secondary forest at night.
Dusky Scrubfowl
Emits a loud, raucous cackling wail and deep clucking. The wailing cackle is characteristic of eastern Melanesian scrubfowl; carries through Maluku forest edges and secondary scrub.
Geographic Range & Migration
Moluccan Scrubfowl
Endemic to the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia, including Halmahera, Seram, and surrounding islands. Found in lowland and foothill forest.
Dusky Scrubfowl
Resident across eastern Indonesia from Lombok east through the Banda Sea islands to the Moluccas and western New Guinea. Found in lowland forest.
Conservation Status
Moluccan Scrubfowl
Dusky Scrubfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Moluccan Scrubfowl
Upperparts grey-brown with dark brown barring; underparts pale grey-white; head and neck medium grey with bare pinkish-red facial skin. Tail dark brown; legs and feet large and pale pinkish.
Dusky Scrubfowl
Dark dusky-brown above and below; bare reddish-orange facial skin prominent around eye; brownish-grey crest small but distinct. Underparts only slightly paler than back; bill yellowish; legs pale.
About These Birds
Moluccan Scrubfowl
A small megapode (~500 g) of family Megapodiidae, endemic to the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. Inhabits coastal forests and beach-forest edges where volcanic or solar-heated sand provides incubation heat for eggs. Feeds on seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Vulnerable due to intensive egg collection, coastal habitat loss, and limited island range.
Dusky Scrubfowl
A medium-sized megapode (~645 g) of family Megapodiidae, occurring across the Maluku Islands and western New Guinea. Inhabits coastal and lowland forests, constructing large communal mound nests of soil and organic debris for egg incubation. Forages on fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates. Least Concern with relatively wide distribution across the Wallacea region.