Forsten's Megapode (Megapodius forsteni) [XC42282]
by id from Bara Village, Buru, Moluccas, Indonesia (song)
Subspecies
Megapodius freycinet (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Dusky Scrubfowl (Megapodius freycinet) and Biak Scrubfowl (Megapodius geelvinkianus) following Jones et al. (1995). Megapodius forstenii was split, with some justification, from Megapodius reinwardt by Jones et al. (1995), of which it has long been treated as a subspecies. However, Jones et al. (1995) also remark that in structure forstenii is "close to Dusky Scrubfowl (Megapodius freycinet) and (especially) Biak Scrubfowl (Megapodius geelvinkianus)…" but do not develop the point. However, the case for a close relationship between these forms is supported on mensural and distributional grounds and on the molecular evidence of Birks and Edwards (2002). The BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group therefore does not recognise forstenii as a separate species and consider that it probably best regarded as a subspecies of Dusky Scrubfowl (Megapodius freycinet).
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt).
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
forsteni G. R. Gray, 1861 - Seram and nearby islands. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Dusky Scrubfowl (Megapodius freycinet).
buruensis Stresemann, 1914 - Southern Moluccas, on Buru. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Dusky Scrubfowl (Megapodius freycinet).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet