Why are megapodes sometimes called mound builders?
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Galliform
Blue, or Indian, peacock (Pavo cristatus) displaying its resplendent feathers.
Megapodes, which are members of the order Galliformes, are commonly referred to as mound builders because of their unique method of incubating eggs.12
Rather than sitting on their eggs, most species construct large mounds composed of decaying vegetation, leaves, and twigs, often covered with soil. The heat generated by the fermentation of this organic matter provides the necessary warmth to incubate the eggs. The male bird is responsible for maintaining the internal temperature of the mound, ensuring it remains stable for the developing embryos. Once the eggs hatch, the young birds dig their way out of the mound and are immediately independent.1