A large, black, ground-dwelling bird with a bald red head and a striking yellow (or purple) throat wattle in males. You’ll often hear them noisily scratching through gardens or forest undergrowth, flinging leaves everywhere in search of food.
Australian brush-turkey
Alectura lathami
Photo: Shirley Hitschmann
Photo: Shirley Hitschmann
Photo: Stephen Goldsworthy
Photo: Phil Mahon
Bird Description:
Special features:
They build enormous compost mound nests—sometimes over a metre tall—using leaf litter and soil. Heat from the rotting vegetation incubates the eggs, which the male carefully tends by checking the temperature and adjusting the mound.
Did you know?:
Chicks hatch fully feathered and ready to run—no parental help required. Despite their prehistoric look and unruly habits, they’re protected by law and play an important role in forest ecosystems.
View more information on this bird at Birdlife Australia: https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/australian-brush-turkey
Location: 1770-Foreshore, 1770-Joseph Banks Cons Park Nth, AW-Discovery Trails, AW-Town Centre
Size: Large
Type of bird: Bush Birds