Malleefowl

Photo by Pearly shells

Alternative names: Lowan, Malleehen

Leipoa ocellata

Identification

55-61cm

• Quite large
• Grey head and neck
• Black line down neck
• Upper-parts mottled grey, white, black, chestnut and buff

Distribution

Graphic by Nrg800

Australia.
Patchy though the Mallee areas of southern New South Wales, northwest Victoria and Little Desert to Murry river Basin. Small patches of population in mallee areas of South Australia and southwest Northern Territory.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Unburnt mallee or woodland with lots of leaf litter and low scrub

Behaviour

• Moves around in singles or pairs
• Forages in scrub and grain stubbles
• When wary 'freezes', then slowly moves away, or flys up tree, with heavy flapping
• Dust-bathes, rests and basks in deep shade
• Roosts on low branch
• Forages in leaf litter

Breeding

The male makes the nest by scraping a large depression in sandy soil. He fills it with sticks, leaves and bark, making a mound. He mixes the material to decay it and then digs an egg chamber. He adds more soil to the mound once the eggs have been laid. Usually 15 eggs are laid at weekly intervals. Incubation takes between 50 and 100 days dependent on temperature. Chicks hatch one at a time and scratch their way to the surface of the mound. They are independent from the start.

Voice

The male emitts two deep, bellowing notes or booms with the female speaking in high pitched crows, soft crooning and low grunts.

References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Pizzey, G. & Knight, F. 1997. Birds of Australia (Collins Field Guide). HarperCollins Publishers, London. ISBN 0-00-220132-1

External Links

Search for photos of Malleefowl in the gallery