The dusky megapode (''Megapodius freycinet''), also known as dusky scrubfowl or common megapode, is a medium-sized, approximately 41 cm (16 in) long, blackish
bird with a short pointed crest, bare red facial skin, dark legs, brown
irises, and a dark brown and yellow
bill. The male and female are similar. This
terrestrial species lives in forests and swamps, including
mangroves, of the
Maluku and
Raja Ampat Islands in
Indonesia. Like other
megapodes, it lays its eggs in a
mound made from earth mixed with leaves, sand, gravel, and sticks, which can be as large as in diameter and stand nearly tall.
Many authorities include the
Biak scrubfowl
The Biak scrubfowl or Biak megapode (''Megapodius geelvinkianus'') 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.
Descr ...
as a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of this species, but the two are increasingly treated as separate species. At the same time, many authorities consider the
taxon ''M. forstenii'' a separate species, Forsten's megapode, but measurements and molecular evidence suggest the two are very close,
[Birks, S. M., & Edwards, S. V. (2002). ''A phylogeny of the megapodes (Aves: Megapodidae) based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences.'' Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 23: 408-421.] and arguably better considered
conspecific. Traditionally, most members of the
genus ''
Megapodius'' have been listed as subspecies of ''M. freycinet'', but today, all major authorities consider this to be incorrect.
The
specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
commemorates the
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
explorer
Louis Claude Desaulses de Freycinet
Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet (7 August 1779 – 18 August 1841) was a French Navy officer. He circumnavigated the earth, and in 1811 published the first map to show a full outline of the coastline of Australia.
Biography
He was born at ...
.
A fairly common species throughout a large part of its range, the dusky scrubfowl is evaluated as
least concern on the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
References
Footnotes
Cited texts
*
External links
BirdLife Species Factsheet
dusky megapode
Birds of the Maluku Islands
dusky megapode
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