Malleefowl
Leipoa ocellata
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Vulnerable
Listed since: Sat Jul 31 2010 14:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Vulnerable
Listed since: 1/13/2022
Population trend: Decreasing
Other names: None
Priority Species? Yes
The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derived from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.
Description
The malleefowl gets its name from the habitat it occurs in. This ground-dwelling bird is famous for its ability to build enormous mounds. The male and female mate for life and take months working together to build their nest. The eggs are incubated in sand or soil by the sun or mounds of rotting leaves. While the male continues to patch-up the nest during the incubation, the parents take no part in chick rearing, with chicks emerging from the mound completely self sufficient.
Threats
Clearing of the mallee for wheat and sheep production has been the major factor in the decline of the Malleefowl in southern Australia but also threatens remaining habitat due to fragmentation and dryland salinity. Predation by the introduced fox is a major cause of mortality of Malleefowl as foxes are known to take Malleefowl at all stages of the bird�s life cycle.