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Brush-Turkey in Lamington National Park - this is a mature male. Note the long bright yellow wattle.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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This is a Turkey chick. The adult scrub turkey builds a large mound of leaves and mulch and lays her eggs inside. The heat from the mound keeps the eggs warm. When the chicks hatch they are on their own.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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Brush-Turkey male, Lamington National Park.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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Brush-Turkey male, Lamington National Park.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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BIRD FACTS
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Description
The Australian Brush-turkey is a large black ground bird from the rainforest and dense woodland of eastern Australia. They rarely fly, preferring to run when alarmed, although they can fly when they need to. On a 4-wheel drive bus outing through Lamington Park some years ago, the bus approached a group of about six Scrub Turkeys on the road. "Have you ever seen Turkeys fly?" asked the driver. When the tourists replied in the negative, the driver promptly accelerated towards the Turkeys. As the bus hurtled forwards, engine roaring, the startled Turkeys took to the air.. "See, they can fly!" said the driver.
Other Names
Scrub Turkey
Size
60 - 70cm. A bit larger than a domestic hen.
Habitat
rainforest and dense woodland. It is also found on well-treed residential land (acreage blocks)
Food
insects, grubs, fruit, seeds
Breeding
It builds a large mound of mulch and leaves up to 4m wide and over 1m tall. 12-15 eggs laid in mound. The young dig themselves out after hatching.
Range
mainly east of the dividing range, from north Queensland to NSW
Classification
| Class: | Aves | | Order: | Galliformes | | Family: | Megapodiidae | | Genus: | Alectura | | Species: | lathami | | Common Name: | Australian Brush-turkey |
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