leipoa

Leipoa is a genus of birds in the family Megapodiidae, commonly known as megapodes or mound-builders. The genus is represented by a single living species, Leipoa ocellata, the mallee fowl, which is native to southern Australia. The genus name and the species’ common name reflect their association with arid to semi-arid landscapes and their distinctive nesting behavior.

Mallee fowl are large, ground-dwelling birds adapted to open, scrubby habitats such as mallee woodlands, heath, and grasslands with sparse cover. They are shy and largely terrestrial, with limited flight and strong legs for foraging and substrate nesting. Their plumage is generally brown and mottled, providing camouflage in their habitat.

A hallmark feature of Leipoa ocellata, shared with other megapodes, is incubation of eggs using heat produced by decomposing vegetation in large nesting mounds. Mound construction and maintenance are typically undertaken by the birds to regulate incubation temperature, rather than by body heat alone. Females lay eggs into these communal mounds, and the temperature of the mound influences hatch timing; the chicks hatch precocial and dig themselves out of the mound to forage independently.

Diet consists of seeds, fruits, invertebrates, and other small prey encountered on the ground. Reproduction is linked to rainfall and seasonal cycles, with breeding activity concentrated in periods favorable for food availability.

Conservation status varies regionally, but the mallee fowl faces threats from habitat loss, altered fire regimes, and predation by introduced species such as foxes and cats. Habitat protection, fire management, and predator control are among conservation measures used to support remaining populations.