Australian Brush Turkey ( Alectura lathami )
Australian Brush Turkey - Australian Brush Turkey information - Australian Brush Turkey facts
As the name of this animal already reveals us, the Australian Brush Turkey is located in Australia, mainly in its eastern part. This bird is approximately 70 cm long (28 in) and weighs over 1.7 kg (3.6 lb). It has got dark coloured feathers which are a great camouflage in the dens forests it lives in. Its small head and flexible but short neck have got reddish colour. Its legs are rather strong and have claws. These enable it to find food on the ground.
Alectura lathami generally lives in wet forests and in rainforests. There it feed on insects, seeds, tiny larvae but also fruit. Breeding is done with the eggs. There are about 30 eggs laid by the female. These eggs are stored in a huge pill of small branches and leaves. This pile measures 1 (3.3 feet) meter in width and about 3 metres in length. It is used as an incubator and the male turkey checks out the inner temperature by putting its head in the pile. The leaves in the damp forests produce the heat which is consequently used to incubate the eggs. Small chicken do not have any “egg tooth” in order to break out of the egg. So they have to help themselves by using their strong legs.
After the birth these tiny chicken are fully developed so they are already full feathered and able to fly! The Australian Brush Turkey usually lives approximately 25 years.
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