Is it true that the Malleefowl lets the rotting vegetation inside the mound generate the heat that incubates the buried eggs?

Yes — the Malleefowl lets the rotting vegetation inside the mound generate the heat that incubates the buried eggs.

Is it true that the Malleefowl checks the temperature by pushing its beak down into the sand, like a living thermometer?

Yes — the Malleefowl checks the temperature by pushing its beak down into the sand, like a living thermometer.

Is it true that the Malleefowl hatches chicks that dig themselves out alone, run within an hour and fly within a day?

Yes — the Malleefowl hatches chicks that dig themselves out alone, run within an hour and fly within a day.

The bird that never sits on its eggs and runs a compost oven instead

Q: Is it true that the Malleefowl never sits on its eggs, and builds a giant compost heap to hatch them instead?

Yes — the Malleefowl never sits on its eggs, and builds a giant compost heap to hatch them instead.

Q: Is it true that the Malleefowl digs a wide pit, packs it with leaves and sticks, waits for rain to soak them, then buries the lot under sand?

Yes — the Malleefowl digs a wide pit, packs it with leaves and sticks, waits for rain to soak them, then buries the lot under sand.

The short version

The malleefowl digs a pit, packs it with leaves, waits for rain and buries it in sand. The rotting vegetation generates heat and the eggs are laid deep inside. For up to nine months the male opens and closes the sand to hold the mound near 33 degrees, testing it with his beak. Chicks dig out alone and can fly within a day.

Why it's so weird

✓The Malleefowl never sits on its eggs, and builds a giant compost heap to hatch them instead.
✓The Malleefowl digs a wide pit, packs it with leaves and sticks, waits for rain to soak them, then buries the lot under sand.
✓The Malleefowl lets the rotting vegetation inside the mound generate the heat that incubates the buried eggs.
✓The Malleefowl checks the temperature by pushing its beak down into the sand, like a living thermometer.
✓The Malleefowl hatches chicks that dig themselves out alone, run within an hour and fly within a day.

📏 How big is it, really?

Malleefowl

60 cm

a 7-year-old

1.2 m

🧒

You could line up about 2 of them along a 7-year-old!

The full story

This bird never sits on its eggs. Instead it builds a giant compost heap and runs it like an oven. Meet the malleefowl of Australia, which digs out a wide pit, fills it with leaves and sticks, waits for rain to soak it, then buries the whole lot under sand. As that vegetation rots it generates heat, and the female lays her eggs deep inside the mound. Now the real work begins. For up to nine months the male tends it, opening and closing the sand to hold the eggs near thirty three degrees. He checks the temperature by pushing his beak down into the mound. When the chicks finally hatch they dig themselves out alone, and they can run within an hour and fly within a day. Follow for more weird animal facts.

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“The Malleefowl never sits on its eggs, and builds a giant compost heap to hatch them instead.”

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“The Malleefowl digs a wide pit, packs it with leaves and sticks, waits for rain to soak them, then buries the lot under sand.”