Maleo vs Dusky Scrubfowl
Macrocephalon maleo compared with Megapodius freycinet
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Maleo | Dusky Scrubfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Macrocephalon maleo | Megapodius freycinet |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Megapodiidae | Megapodiidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 58.2 cm (22.9 in) | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 1543.75 g (54.45 oz) | 644.5 g (22.73 oz) |
| Diet | Forages in Sulawesi lowland forests for fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates scratched from soil and … | Omnivorous ground forager in New Guinea and island forests; eats fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | 10 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Maleo
Emits a loud, resonant boom call and deep clucking notes. The male's loud, far-carrying boom echoes across Sulawesi coastal forest; a dramatic sound during pre-dawn megapode activity.
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
Maleo
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Found in lowland forest near geothermal areas used for nest incubation. Largely confined to coastal lowlands.
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
Maleo
Dusky Scrubfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Maleo
Upperparts black with brownish gloss; underparts white washed salmon-pink on breast and flanks; bare facial skin yellow with rounded black casque on crown. Bill yellowish; legs grey.
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
Maleo
A distinctive megapode (~1.5 kg) of family Megapodiidae, with a black casque on the crown, bare red facial skin, and salmon-tinted underparts. Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Travels to communal beach or geothermal nesting sites where solar or volcanic heat incubates eggs buried in sand. Critically Endangered due to habitat destruction, egg collection, and hunting.
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.