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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Megapodiidae
  4. ›
  5. Megapodius
  6. ›
  7. Orange-footed Scrubfowl
Orange-footed Scrubfowl
Photo · (c) Lek Khauv, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Orange-footed Scrubfowl

Megapodius reinwardtDumont, 1823

Updated 11 June 2026

Also known asKarrkarruk

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
GALLIFORMES
Family
Megapodiidae
Genus
Megapodius

At a glance

The Orange-footed Scrubfowl is a large bird, about 42–47 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
42–47 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Orange-footed Scrubfowl look like?

The Orange-footed Scrubfowl is a large bird, about 42–47 cm long and weighing 505–1200 g.

The orange-footed scrubfowl, also known as orange-footed megapode, is a large megapode of the family Megapodiidae native to the Lesser Sunda Islands, southern New Guinea, and northern Australia. It is a ground-dwelling bird about the size of a chicken, known for building massive incubation mounds.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
42–47 cm
Weight
505–1200 g
Wingspan
65 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Orange-footed Scrubfowl?

The Orange-footed Scrubfowl is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Donald Davesne · Cow Bay QLD 4873, Australie

Call

Tim · Cairns QLD, Australia

Call

jimchurches · Cape Tribulation QLD 4873, Australia

Call

Matthew Borella · Kuranda QLD 4881, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Orange-footed Scrubfowl eat?

The Orange-footed Scrubfowl feeds on fruit, seeds, corms/tubers and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Orange-footed Scrubfowl live in Australia?

The Orange-footed Scrubfowl is native to Australia, recorded across 20 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingLesser Sundas, Kai Is. (south Moluccas), north-west, south and south-east New Guinea and satellites and north Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Passage
  • Resident
  • Vagrant
  • Breeding

5 regions recorded