About the Australian Brushturkey
The Australian brushturkey, Australian brush-turkey, or gweela, also commonly called the bush turkey, scrub turkey, or just brushturkey, is a large mound-building bird of the family Megapodiidae. It is found in eastern Australia, ranging from Far North Queensland to the south coast of New South Wales, and has also been introduced to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It is the largest living member of the Megapodiidae and one of three species native to Australia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The Australian brushturkey is a large bird with black feathers and a red head. Its total length is about 60–75 cm (23.5–29.5 in) and a wingspan of about 85 cm (33 in). The subspecies A. l. purpureicollis from the northern Cape York Peninsula is smaller than the more widespread nominate subspecies. It has a prominent, fan-like tail flattened sideways, and its plumage is mainly blackish, but with a bare red head, and a yellow (in the nominate subspecies) or purple wattle (in A. l. purpureicollis).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Japan.
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Orange-footed ScrubfowlMegapodius reinwardtIt is a terrestrial bird the size of a domestic chicken and dark-coloured with strong orange legs and a pointed crest at the back of the head.
MalleefowlLeipoa ocellataThe malleefowl is a stocky ground-dwelling Australian bird about the size of a domestic chicken.
Philippine MegapodeMegapodius cumingiiThe Philippine megapode, also known as the Philippine scrubfowl or the Tabon scrubfowl, is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae.
Learn the Australian Brushturkey for real
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