noun
- a large ground-dwelling bird of the family Megapodiidae found in Australia and nearby regions, known for building large mounds of vegetation to incubate their eggs
Usage: zoology
Examples
- The megapode built an enormous mound of rotting leaves to keep its eggs warm.
- Australian megapodes are remarkable for their unique nesting behavior.
- The malleefowl is a well-known species of megapode.
- Megapodes rely on decomposing organic matter to generate heat for incubation.
- Scientists studied the temperature regulation methods of the megapode.
- The megapode chicks are able to fly shortly after hatching.