Megapodius eremita
General description:
Very short crest, plumage very dark all over, generally greyish, grey on underwing extensive, forehead and part of race bare and reddish, legs and feet range from dark grey to olive green or horn coloured.
Conservation status:
Not Threatened.
Diagnostic description:
Very short crest, plumage very dark all over, generally greyish, grey on underwing extensive, forehead and part of race bare and reddish, legs and feet range from dark grey to olive green or horn coloured.
Behaviour:
Size:
Ca 34 cm, 555-660 g
Phylogeny:
Taxonomy:
- Megapodius eremita Hartlaub, 1867, Ninigo Islands. Formerly included in M. freycinet. Generally considered to form part of the M. freycinet superspecies. Known to hybridize with M. affinis on Karkar I (off NE New Guinea); comparison of specimens taken on Karkar I in 1914 and 1969 indicates that this population may have moved closer to present species than to M. affinis. Reported to hybridize with M. reinwardt in D'Entrecasteaux Is and Louisiade Archipelago, where present species not known to occur. Race brenchleyi traditionally accepted for birds of Solomon Is (including Bougainville I and Buka I), (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution:
Distribution:
- Ninigo Group through Admiralty Islands, New Britain, New Ireland and rest of Bismarck Archipelago to Solomon Is.
Habitat:
Lowland tropical forest.
Trophic strategy:
Insect from litter, with constant clicking.
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