The biology of the malleefowl Leipoa ocellata Gould in the Little Desert area, Australia

Several pairs of malleefowl Leipoa ocellata Gould, 1840, have been studied intensively in a block of natural mallee habitat. The unique observational situation, the result of years of patient and low-impact interactions between the observer and the birds, has provided detailed information on a normally secretive species. The regular mound construction behaviour is described, as is temperature testing and manipulation, copulation, egg laying and hatching.