🐦

Nicobar Scrubfowl

Megapodius nicobariensis

Vulnerable
Envergure
45,4 cm
Poids
843,25 g
Famille
Megapodiidae
Ordre
Galliformes
On this page

À propos

A medium-sized megapode (~840 g) of family Megapodiidae, endemic to the Nicobar Islands of India in the eastern Indian Ocean. Inhabits dense coastal and inland forests, burying eggs in communal mounds of soil and leaf litter warmed by solar heat. Omnivorous, foraging for seeds and invertebrates. Vulnerable due to island endemism, habitat clearance, and tsunami impacts.

Physical Description

Measurement Value Imperial
Envergure 45,4 cm 17.9 in
Poids 843,25 g 29.74 oz

Identification

Plumage

Upper parts dark brownish-black; underparts grey-brown, paler on belly; bare reddish facial skin; short upright crest brownish. Legs large, greyish-yellow. One of the darker scrubfowl species.

Habitat & Range

Répartition géographique

Endemic to the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, India. Found in lowland tropical forest and coastal vegetation.

Diet & Feeding

Forages on the ground in Nicobar Island forests for fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates scratched from soil and litter.

Statut de conservation

Vulnerable
IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: M.

Taille de la couvée

2-20

Son

Chant

Emits loud, wailing cackling calls and guttural territorial clucks. The raucous wailing is typical of the genus; calls carry through Nicobar island coastal forest at dawn and dusk.

Taxonomie

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Ordre Galliformes (Gamebirds)
Famille Megapodiidae (Megapodes)
Genus Megapodius
Espèces Megapodius nicobariensis

Distribution

Nicobar Scrubfowl has been recorded in 1 countries.

{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}
Présent Not recorded
{# Simplified country/region shapes — major landmasses with ISO alpha-2 data attributes. These are simplified polygon representations for visual distribution display. #}

countries highlighted

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Nicobar Scrubfowl eat?
Forages on the ground in Nicobar Island forests for fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates scratched from soil and litter.
Where does the Nicobar Scrubfowl live?
Endemic to the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, India. Found in lowland tropical forest and coastal vegetation.
Is the Nicobar Scrubfowl endangered?
The Nicobar Scrubfowl has a conservation status of Vulnerable.
How does the Nicobar Scrubfowl nest?
Nest type: M.
What does the Nicobar Scrubfowl sound like?
Emits loud, wailing cackling calls and guttural territorial clucks. The raucous wailing is typical of the genus; calls carry through Nicobar island coastal forest at dawn and dusk.
How big is the Nicobar Scrubfowl?
The Nicobar Scrubfowl has a wingspan of 45.4 cm, weight of 843.25 g.
What order and family does the Nicobar Scrubfowl belong to?
The Nicobar Scrubfowl (Megapodius nicobariensis) belongs to the order Galliformes and the family Megapodiidae.

Similar Birds

Other species in the Megapodiidae family

Comparer

Explore More

Explore the Nature FYI Family