Philippine Scrubfowl vs Dusky Scrubfowl
Megapodius cumingii compared with Megapodius freycinet
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Philippine Scrubfowl | Dusky Scrubfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megapodius cumingii | Megapodius freycinet |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Megapodiidae | Megapodiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 42.6 cm (16.8 in) | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 892.125 g (31.47 oz) | 644.5 g (22.73 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous ground forager in Philippine coastal forests; eats fallen fruits, seeds, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. | Omnivorous ground forager in New Guinea and island forests; eats fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Philippine Scrubfowl
Produces a loud, raucous cackling wail and deep clucking series. The penetrating cackle echoes through Philippine island forest; among the louder megapode calls of the western Pacific.
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
Philippine Scrubfowl
Resident in the southern Philippines, Sulawesi, and surrounding Indonesian 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
Philippine Scrubfowl
Dusky Scrubfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Philippine Scrubfowl
Medium grey-brown above, paler grey on underparts; bare reddish orbital skin; short brownish crest. Bill and legs yellowish. Underparts cleanly pale grey, contrasting with darker back.
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
Philippine Scrubfowl
A medium-sized megapode (~890 g) of family Megapodiidae found on islands of the Philippines, Sulawesi, and Borneo. Inhabits coastal and lowland forests, often near beaches where it buries eggs in sun-warmed sand. Forages for seeds, fruits, and invertebrates on the forest floor. Least Concern; relatively widespread across its archipelago range though locally threatened.
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.