New Guinea Scrubfowl vs Dusky Scrubfowl
Megapodius decollatus compared with Megapodius freycinet
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | New Guinea Scrubfowl | Dusky Scrubfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megapodius decollatus | Megapodius freycinet |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Megapodiidae | Megapodiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 45.0 cm (17.7 in) | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 652.3333333333334 g (23.01 oz) | 644.5 g (22.73 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous ground forager in lowland New Guinea forests; eats fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates from … | Omnivorous ground forager in New Guinea and island forests; eats fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
New Guinea Scrubfowl
Emits a loud, raucous cackling wail and deep territorial clucks. The penetrating cackle carries through New Guinea lowland and foothill forests at twilight and dawn.
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
New Guinea Scrubfowl
Resident across New Guinea lowlands and foothills. Found in lowland rainforest and forest edges in the region.
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
New Guinea Scrubfowl
Dusky Scrubfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
New Guinea Scrubfowl
Brown-grey above and mid-grey below; bare orange-red facial skin around eye; small buff-brown crest; bill yellowish. Marginally paler on underparts than upperparts; legs robust and yellowish-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
New Guinea Scrubfowl
A medium-sized megapode (~650 g) of family Megapodiidae, found in lowland and foothill forests of northern and western New Guinea. Constructs large mound nests of decomposing litter and soil for thermally regulated incubation of eggs. Forages on the forest floor for seeds, fruits, and invertebrates. Least Concern; broadly distributed but dependent on intact forest habitats.
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.