The Megapodidae also famously known as the mound builders are big birds that highly resemble the chicken. This can be attributed to their small heads and big feet. They can be found in brown and black colors that are inconspicuous. They can also be referred to as incubator birds. They lay eggs and they hatch at a very advanced state, where the chicks are hatched with the ability to do almost everything a mature adult one can do. They can even fend for their own food.

The reason they are called mound builders is because nests of mound from decaying plant matter. This is mainly catered to by the male who makes sure that there is sufficient regulation. Other megapodidae prefer to bury their eggs wile others let them warm through warm sand.

They can be said to be loners because they are shy and tend to keep to themselves. Their mound building lifestyle makes them appear like very protective animals that appreciate serenity; because they like peace, these birds have been pushed out of certain places due to the encroachment of man in their territory. This has mostly happened in Fiji and Tonga. It has also been observed in New Caledonia. Due to this, many have in the end been wiped out of existence. The Malleefowl which is the only bird in its genus is the main bird that is at a threat of being extinct. Its nesting lifestyle is however quite complicated.

While fixing up the mound, they make a point of chasing away any females that may come near it. They take great caution and care when making the mound; paying attention to every detail including the regulation. The nights can be quite cold, so the male makes sure that he regulates the warmth by adding plant material onto the mound. During the day, he then removes it. This habit is quite complex for a bird and that makes them unique in their own way. The resulting mound is about 3 ft deep.

Their intelligence is baffling. Others lay their eggs in places where there is volcanic activity so that they can utilize the heat that emits from them.

When the eggs hatch, they force themselves up to the surface by themselves with no help at all from their mothers. Unlike with other species of birds, the megapodidae eggs do not come into contact with their mother. Even after they hatch, they have to learn to look for food without assistance from the parents.

Like the chicken, which they are likened to, they forage for their food in scrubs and under stones using their strong feet. They can found in different parts of the world. Some of these places are Australia, New Guinea, the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Philippines, Borneo and the Nicaban Islands.

In all these areas, the different species are evenly distributed depending on whether the geographical conditions suit them. They are likely to be found in places that are inhabited by man.