The Moluccan Megapode, also known as Wallace's Standardwing, is a medium-sized megapode endemic to the Moluccas islands of Indonesia. It is notable for its sleek dark plumage and bare facial skin.
Where to spot
Endemic to several islands in the northern and central Moluccas (Maluku), Indonesia, including Halmahera, Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, Seram, and Buru. It inhabits lowland forests and coastal sandy areas for nesting.
How to spot
Look for a medium-sized, dark-bodied megapode with a grayish head and bare red or yellow facial skin. They are typically shy and elusive in dense forest habitats but can be observed on communal nesting beaches, particularly at dawn or dusk, as they come to lay or check on their eggs.
When to spot
Year-round. Peak nesting activity often aligns with the dry season, when sandy areas are warmest and most suitable for egg incubation.
Where to spot
Endemic to several islands in the northern and central Moluccas (Maluku), Indonesia, including Halmahera, Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, Seram, and Buru. It inhabits lowland forests and coastal sandy areas for nesting.
How to spot
Look for a medium-sized, dark-bodied megapode with a grayish head and bare red or yellow facial skin. They are typically shy and elusive in dense forest habitats but can be observed on communal nesting beaches, particularly at dawn or dusk, as they come to lay or check on their eggs.
When to spot
Year-round. Peak nesting activity often aligns with the dry season, when sandy areas are warmest and most suitable for egg incubation.
This species is named after Alfred Russel Wallace, who first described it. Like the Maleo, it prefers to use sun-heated sandy beaches, often communally, for burying its eggs rather than constructing organic mounds, demonstrating a unique adaptation within the megapode family.
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