Australian Brushturkey

Alectura lathami ‡

Botanic Gardens, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_2714 20220920 - lathami male in breeding plumage: long yellow neck pouch,
bare skin on head. CLICK for one on Greenslopes St, Cairns North 20230819.

Notes: Mostly blackish w. bare red head & neck; coloured pouch on neck. Male breeding: pouch
ssp lathami yellow; ssp purpureicollis purple. Non-breeding: pouch shrunken. Female: like non-br
male; dark bristles not just on forecrown. Eats fallen fruit, seeds & litter invertebrates. Sedentary.
Poor flyer but roosts in trees.

Range from Pizzey & Knight©(modified)
Mt Hypipomee NP, FN Qld IMG_9006 20180319 - lathami female: bristles on neck & face except on lores & around eyes.
CLICK for closeup of neck & head. Bonadio RV Park, Yungaburra, FNE Qld IMG_0043 20251028 - lathami male in transition: smooth skin on neck & face.
CLICK for closeup of one at Centenary Lakes, Cairns 20250821. Centennial Lakes, Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_0237 20180401 - lathami male: non-breeding plumage – reduced yellow
neck pouch; bare skin on head. CLICK for another: 20240528. Botanic Gardens, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_5272 20231007 - lathami male breeding plumage. CLICK for male in
non-breeding plumage 20190407. Lake Eacham, Crater Lakes NP, FN Qld IMG_6310 20180227 - lathami female. CLICK for juvenile: 'dirty' head and neck.
O'Reilly's, Lamington NP, SE Qld IMG_2202 20220318. Greenhoose, Iron Range NP, CYP, FNE Qld IMG_0934 20191209 - purpureicollis male in breeding plumage: long purple
neck pouch. CLICK for another view. IMG_0950. Cooks Hut, Iron Range NP, CYPAL, FNE Qld IMG_0402 20220825 - purpureicollis breeding plumage. Rainforesst Camp, Iron Range NP, CYPAL, FNE Qld IMG_0073 20220820 - purpureicollis non-breeding plumage. Research Station, Lockhart River, CYPAL, FNE Qld IMG_8254 20220728 - purpureicollis female(?). CLICK for roosting
juvenile: 'dirty' head, neck. Cooks Hut, Iron Range NP, CYPAL, FNE Qld 20160914 Botanical Gardens, Cairns North, FNE Qld MVI_2767 20190821 - lathami male in breeding plumage preparing the nest mound. Newmarket Gardens, Brisbane, SE Qld MVI_3528 20190703 - lathami female grubbing.