Red-billed Brushturkey

The Red-billed Brushturkey, also known as the Red-billed Talegalla or Cuvier's Brushturkey, is a striking megapode. This robust bird reaches lengths of up to 57 cm and is cloaked in black plumage. Its bare facial skin is a vivid yellow, contrasting with a reddish-orange bill, yellow iris, and orange feet. The head boasts bristle-like black feathers, and both sexes present a similar appearance.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Red-billed Brushturkey, look for its distinctive reddish-orange bill and the bare yellow skin on its face. The bird's overall black plumage and orange feet are also key characteristics that aid in its identification.

Habitat

This species is a denizen of the lowland forests, where it forages and lives amongst the dense foliage.

Distribution

The Red-billed Brushturkey is an Indonesian endemic, found specifically on the Vogelkop Peninsula, the western Snow Mountains, and Misool Island of West Papua.

Behaviour

The Red-billed Brushturkey is known for its unique nesting behavior, constructing mounds from sticks and leaves in which to lay its eggs.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species evaluates the Red-billed Brushturkey as Least Concern, indicating that, at present, it does not face an immediate threat of extinction in the wild.