The megapodes, also known as incubator birds or mound-builders,
are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet in
the family Megapodiidae. Their name literally means "large foot"
(Greek: mega = large, poda = foot), and is a reference to the heavy legs and
feet typical of these terrestrial birds. All are browsers, all but the
Malleefowl occupy wooded habitats, and most are brown or black colored.
Megapodes are superprecocial, hatching from their eggs in the most mature
condition of any birds. They hatch with open eyes, bodily coordination and
strength, full wing feathers and downy body feathers,and are able to run,
pursue prey, and, in some species, fly on the same day they hatch.