Buschhuhns

Buschhuhns, commonly referred to in English as brush-hens, are mound-building, ground-dwelling birds in the Megapodiidae family native to Australia. The term is most often applied to the Australian brush-turkey (Alectura lathami) and related species, which together form the group known as brush-hens.

They are medium to large birds, roughly 50 to 60 cm in length, with dark brown to black plumage. They have bare facial skin that can appear blue or pink depending on age and sex. Buschhuhns inhabit a range of forested environments, including rainforests, eucalyptus forests, and woodland edges, and they have shown some ability to persist in suburban and urban fringe areas.

A defining feature is their reproductive strategy as mound incubators. Males construct and maintain substantial nesting mounds from leaf litter and soil, regulating temperature through mound composition and solar heating to incubate the eggs. Females typically lay several clutches of eggs into these mounds, sometimes in multiple locations, before moving on. Incubation lasts several weeks, generally around 50 to 60 days, after which precocial chicks emerge and soon begin foraging on the forest floor.

Diet consists mainly of fallen fruit, seeds, fungi, and invertebrates, foraging on the ground and using leaf litter to find food. Buschhuhns are typically shy around humans but can become more visible in suitable habitats with abundant food and cover.

Conservation status is generally of Least Concern, with overall populations considered stable, though local habitat loss and predation by introduced species can impact certain populations. The brush-hen group remains a notable component of Australian forest ecosystems.