Vanuatu Scrubfowl

Incubation without body heat distinguishes the Vanuatu Scrubfowl (Megapodius layardi), a megapode endemic to the Vanuatu archipelago in the south-west Pacific. Rather than sitting on its eggs, the bird buries them in solar-heated volcanic soil or in mounds of decaying vegetation and leaves the warmth of the ground to do the work, a habit that exploits the geothermal activity of these volcanic islands. Adults are dark greyish-brown above and paler grey-white below, with bare reddish facial skin, a small brown crest and large, pale yellowish legs. The species forages on the ground in coastal and inland tropical forest, taking seeds and invertebrates, and announces itself with a loud wailing cackle and deep clucking. Recorded birds average about 769 g.