Sula megapode

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Sula megapode
Naturalis Biodiversity Center - ZMA.AVES.25836 - Megapodius bernsteinii Schlegel, 1866 - Megapodiidae - skin specimen.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Megapodiidae
Genus: Megapodius
Species:
M. bernsteinii
Binomial name
Megapodius bernsteinii
Schlegel, 1866

The Sula megapode or Sula scrubfowl (Megapodius bernsteinii) is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae. It is found only in the Banggai and Sula Islands between Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, where its habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. It is threatened by habitat destruction.

Contents

Description

The Sula scrubfowl is a medium-sized ground-dwelling bird growing to a length of between 30 and 35 cm (12 and 14 in). The sexes are similar in appearance, being a uniform reddish-brown colour and having a short, pointed crest and long red or orange-red legs and feet. [2] [3]

Distribution

It is known only from the Banggai and Sula Islands, groups of islands between Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. [1] Habitats include lowland forests as well as dense scrub near forests and farmland, at altitudes of up to 450 m (1,500 ft). [1]

Ecology

The species usually forages in pairs, but on one occasion, a group of five birds moving about and feeding together was recorded, perhaps an adult pair and their young. The diet mainly consists of roots and invertebrates, including earthworms. [3]

Very little was known of the breeding habits of this bird so a study was undertaken in 1991. Nine birds were in the vicinity of the study site, four pairs and a single bird. There was much vocalisation mostly in the form of duetting and choruses, with all the birds joining in synchrony. Calling took place in the mornings and to a lesser extent in the afternoons indicating the presence of birds close to the nest. The study nest was a cone-shaped mound in a fallow cultivated field close to scrub and forest remnants. It was built over two rotting logs and was constructed of sand and clay. Eggs are laid by the female in the mound and covered with soil (this was not observed). During the month-long observation period, a bird (or sometimes two) would approach the mound on most days and rake the surface with its claws. The bird faced downhill and scratched the surface with alternate feet, working in one instance for 116 minutes. Another bird could sometimes be heard in the nearby undergrowth. The scratching bird was alert to danger, freezing at unexpected noises, and peering round and responding to the warning cries of the blue-backed parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus) and the spangled drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus). Monitor lizards (Varanus) sometimes tried to raid the nest, usually after an adult bird had been raking, but had little success while the researchers were watching. [3]

Status

M. bernsteinii faces a number of threats and its total population is thought to be declining. Its natural forest habitat is threatened by logging and is being converted into agricultural land, the birds are hunted and their eggs collected for human consumption, and they and their young are preyed on by feral cats and dogs. The total area of occupancy of this bird is only about 4,500 km2 (1,700 sq mi) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "vulnerable". [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megapode</span> Family of birds

The megapodes, also known as incubator birds or mound-builders, are stocky, medium-large, chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet in the family Megapodiidae. Their name literally means "large foot" and is a reference to the heavy legs and feet typical of these terrestrial birds. All are browsers, and all except the malleefowl occupy wooded habitats. Most are brown or black in color. Megapodes are superprecocial, hatching from their eggs in the most mature condition of any bird. They hatch with open eyes, bodily coordination and strength, full wing feathers, and downy body feathers, and are able to run, pursue prey, and in some species, fly on the same day they hatch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallacea</span> Biogeographical region

Wallacea is a biogeographical designation for a group of mainly Indonesian islands separated by deep-water straits from the Asian and Australian continental shelves. Wallacea includes Sulawesi, the largest island in the group, as well as Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Timor, Halmahera, Buru, Seram, and many smaller islands. The islands of Wallacea lie between the Sunda Shelf to the west, and the Sahul Shelf including Australia and New Guinea to the south and east. The total land area of Wallacea is 347,000 km2 (134,000 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-footed scrubfowl</span> Species of bird

The orange-footed scrubfowl, also known as orange-footed megapode or just scrubfowl, is a small megapode of the family Megapodiidae native to many islands in the Lesser Sunda Islands as well as southern New Guinea and northern Australia.

The New Guinea scrubfowl or New Guinea megapode is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae. It is found in New Guinea, mostly in the northern half. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. This species was formerly known as Megapodius affinis but Roselaar, 1994, Bulletin of the Zoological Museum of the University of Amsterdam, 14, no.2, pp. 9–36 showed that Megapodius affinis A.B.Meyer, 1874 refers to M. reinwardt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine megapode</span> Species of bird

The Philippine megapode, also known as the Philippine scrubfowl or the Tabon scrubfowl, is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae. It is found in the Philippines, northeastern Borneo, and Sulawesi. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The species was named after the collector Hugh Cuming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melanesian megapode</span> Species of bird

The Melanesian scrubfowl or Melanesian megapode is a megapode species that is endemic to islands within Melanesia. The Melanesian scrubfowl has a unique strategy of egg incubation in which it relies on environmental heat sources. This bird species is culturally important for Indigenous peoples in Melanesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biak scrubfowl</span> Species of bird

The Biak scrubfowl or Biak megapode is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae. It is found only on the islands of Biak, Mios Korwar, Numfor, Manim and Mios Num in the West Papua region of Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanuatu megapode</span> Species of bird

The Vanuatu megapode or Vanuatu scrubfowl is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae. It was formerly known as the New Hebrides scrubfowl. It is found only in Vanuatu. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. The species is threatened by habitat loss and egg collecting.

The Sulawesi nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it occurs on Sulawesi and the Sula Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sula hanging parrot</span> Species of bird

The Sula hanging parrot is a small species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to forest and nearby habitats on the Banggai and Sula Islands in Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-mantled racket-tail</span> Species of parrot

The golden-mantled racket-tail is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest up to an altitude of about 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi myna</span> Species of bird

The Sulawesi myna is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

The grey-headed imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great-billed kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The great-billed kingfisher or black-billed kingfisher is a species of bird in the subfamily Halcyoninae. It is endemic to the Sulawesi region of Indonesia. It can be found on the island of Sulawesi and in the Sula Archipelago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slaty cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

The slaty cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it occurs in the Sula and Banggai Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-sided flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The grey-sided flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sula pitta</span> Species of bird

The Sula pitta is a species of the pitta. It was considered a subspecies of the red-bellied pitta. It is endemic to Indonesia where it occurs in the Sula and Banggai Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashy woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The ashy woodpecker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and surrounding islands in Indonesia. There are two subspecies, the nominate race M. f. fulvus, which is found in northern Sulawesi, the islands of Lembeh and Manterawu, and the archipelagos of Togian and Banggai; and M. f. wallacei, from southern Sulawesi and the islands of Muna and Buton. The second subspecies is named for the collector and scientist Alfred Russel Wallace.

The Tanimbar megapode or Tanimbar scrubfowl is a small megapode endemic to the Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia. It is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the orange-footed scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banggai fruit dove</span> Species of bird

The Banggai fruit dove, also called maroon-chinned fruit dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Banggai Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 BirdLife International (2016). "Megapodius bernsteinii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22678593A92780409. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678593A92780409.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Elliott, A.; Kirwan, G.M. (2016). "Sula scrubfowl (Megapodius bernsteinii)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Indrawan, M.; Masala, Y.; Pesik, L. (1998). "Observations on the breeding behaviour of Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bernsteinii in the Banggai Islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia" (PDF). Forktail. 13: 13–16.
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