The
Australian brushturkey (
Alectura lathami) is a species of bird in the
Megapode family, Megapodiidae. It is found in eastern Australia, from
Far North Queensland to the
South Coast region of New South Wales, as well as on
Kangaroo Island in South Australia, where it is an
introduced species. The Australian brushturkey inhabits wet forests, as well as drier scrubs and open areas, and lives in both mountainous and lowland areas. It is also common in urban environments including on domestic properties in the cities of
Brisbane and
Sydney. A black-feathered bird with a red head, the Australian brushturkey is typically a large bird, with a total length of around 60–75 cm and a wingspan of around 85 cm, although the subspecies
A. l. purpureicollis from the northern
Cape York Peninsula is somewhat smaller. The species is known for its mound-building, which is carried out by a dominant male and visited by a succession of local females, for mating and egg-laying. It uses a large nest on the ground made of leaves, other compostable material, and earth. This female Australian brushturkey was photographed in
Crater Lakes National Park, Queensland.
Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp
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