There are 21 species in this family. They are found in forests in Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands though to Indonesia and the Philippines.

They are large turkey-like birds, 20-27 inches in length. The Megapodes are also known as scrub fowl and brush turkeys.

Megapodes are also known as mound builders because of their unique nest-building and incubation method.

They create a nest mound of dried vegetation and sand and bury their eggs in the mound. The heat of the decaying vegetation incubates the eggs.

Both parents add and take material off of the mound to regulate the temperature of the mound. After hatching, the chicks dig their way out of the mound.

The chicks are precocial and can feed and care for themselves after hatching. Some members of this family place their eggs in burrows or pits in the ground and let the sun’s warmth incubate the eggs.