Megapodius layardi Tristram, 1879

Andersen, Michael J., Fatdal, Lilly, Mauck III, William M. & Smith, Brian Tilston, 2017, An ornithological survey of Vanuatu on the islands of Éfaté, Malakula, Gaua, and Vanua Lava, Check List 13 (6), pp. 755-782 : 759

Megapodius layardi Tristram, 1879 , Vanuatu Scrubfowl

We detected the endemic Vanuatu Scrubfowl only on Malakula Island in forest surrounding our camp. We heard them vocalizing on most days in the morning, and at least once an individual sang at night. MJA saw them once and made 2 recordings ( Table A2). We identified Vanuatu Scrubfowl based on a slate-gray bird about the size and shape of a chicken, with a short tail and crest, red face, and stout yellow legs. Our guides showed us two eggs from an active nest mound near Lingarak Village, suggesting there is at least some egg-collecting pressure by villagers on Malakula. Egg harvesting—one of the most pressing influences on scrubfowl populations—is a concern elsewhere in Vanuatu ( Bowen 1996, Foster 1999) where its IUCN status is Vulnerable.