A male Australian Brush-turkey has spent months building a wide, high mound of leaves and twigs. Now at last it’s ready, and a female comes to visit. She inspects the mound, while he ducks his head and pays court to her. She tidies things up a bit, moving the leaves around, then goes into the deep hollow he’s made in the centre of the mound. He follows her in, and the mating is done.

It takes just a few seconds. He hops on top of her, grabs the skin on her head with his beak, and covers her. Then he hops off, and she continues scratching the leaves and twigs. After a few moments, he decides to try his luck again, but she rejects him this time.

Here’s the male Brush-turkey, showing off his yellow collar, red head, and fierce eye:

When a male is wooing a female, he often makes a deep, booming call. It sounds a bit like an owl: oo-oo-oom. I managed to record one a while ago.

The female will lay her eggs, either in this male’s mound of leaves or in another one, and cover them with leaves. Then she’ll go on her way. The adults birds don’t look after the eggs. Instead, the eggs incubate in the warmth of the mound. When the chicks hatch, they have to fend for themselves. The parents don’t look after them. I sometimes see two or three chicks running around together, exploring their world. This picture of a Brush-turkey chick is from a while ago.

Common name: Australian Brush-turkey
Scientific name: Alectura lathami
Approximate length: 60-70 cm
Date spotted: 16 August 2024 (winter)
Location: Manly Dam Park, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’59.5″S 151°15’18.2″E