maleos

Maleos are large ground-dwelling birds in the megapode family Megapodiidae, native to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. The species Macrocephalon maleus is the only member of the genus Macrocephalon. They inhabit coastal forests, swamps, and open beaches where suitable sand or soil nests can be constructed.

Description: Maleos are relatively large megapodes with robust bodies, short wings, and cryptic brown plumage that helps conceal them on the ground. Males and females look alike, with slight variations not readily apparent in the field.

Ecology and behavior: A defining characteristic of megapodes is incubation of eggs in environmental heat rather than body heat. Female maleos lay eggs in large sand- or soil-mound nests at nesting sites; the incubation heat comes from decaying vegetation in the mound or, in some locales, geothermal heat from the beach. Incubation lasts several months, after which precocial chicks hatch and fledge with little parental care.

Diet: They feed on seeds, fruit, invertebrates, and other small prey found on the forest floor and along beaches.

Conservation: The maleo is classified as Endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss, egg collection, and hunting pressure. Populations have declined sharply in parts of its range. Conservation measures include protection of nesting beaches, community-based egg harvest management, and habitat protection, though enforcement varies by region.