this unusual bird is the result of a hybridization between a chicken and a ring-neck pheasant. while surprising to some, chickens have been found to hybridize with many other galliformes, such as quail and guinea hens.
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Tag: fowl
bird of the day: the australian brushturkey!
the australian brushturkey, often known as the bush turkey or scrub turkey, is a large bird native to australia that, despite the name, has little relation to the wild turkey.
the brushturkey feeds off of grains, insects, and fallen fruits, though it sometimes grabs fruits from low branches. they’ve become increasingly considered a pest, as they will feast off of crops and raid gardens.
the brushturkey has an extremely rare and unique method of nesting, more similar to a crocodile’s than most other birds. male brushturkeys work tirelessly to create a huge mound of decomposing material, earth, and other materials off the ground. up to 6 females’ eggs will be laid in the mound – mounds have been found to contain up to 50 eggs. anyone familiar with composting will know that inside a compost mound, the decomposing material creates warmth. the same thing happens with the brush turkey mounds. the brush turkeys will stick their beaks in to check that the temperature is just right, and add or remove material accordingly. much like reptiles, the gender of the offspring can be partially determined by the warmth given to the eggs. if the mound is cooler, more male chicks will be hatched, and if it’s warmer, more female chicks. once the chicks hatch and have burrowed out of the mound, they are on their own. they are hatched ready to fly, and receive no assistance from their parents. the nestbuilding behavior of the turkeys has led to further viewing of them as a pest, as they sometimes raid gardens for large amounts of mulch to construct their nests.
brushturkeys were traditionally used as food by aboriginal australians, but it became a common practice during the Great Depression. the turkeys were viewed as a reliable source of food, and since many of them were accustomed to humans at this point, they were easy targets. both adult turkeys and eggs were eaten. this led to a plummeting brushturkey population. luckily, as the economy slowly recovered, the brushturkey population slowly rose again.
brushturkeys are beautiful, interesting birds that personally remind me a lot of velociraptors with their build. let’s hope these interesting modern-day dinosaurs are around for a long time!
today's bird 