Where do they live?

Brush Turkeys have learned to live surprisingly well alongside us. Although they naturally belong in forests rich with leaf litter, they now make their homes across much of Australia’s east coast, including right here on the Northern Beaches. As humans cleared large areas of their original habitat, these birds adapted and found ways to survive in our suburbs, reserves, parks and gardens.

It’s easy to forget that their presence today is actually a conservation success story. During the Great Depression, when hunting native animals was legal, Brush Turkeys were almost wiped out as people relied on them for food. Their numbers fell so low that they were close to disappearing altogether.

Thanks to modern protections under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, they’ve made an incredible comeback. The birds you see scratching in the garden or wandering through the bush are living proof of how resilient nature can be when given a chance. Even if they sometimes test our patience, their return is a reminder that wildlife can recover and thrive right alongside us.

What do they eat?

Brush Turkeys spend their days scratching through leaf litter and fallen logs to find insects, seeds and fruit. While this might look messy to us, it’s actually incredibly helpful for the environment. Their constant raking turns over the soil, adds nutrients and helps native plants regenerate.

So even if their foraging sometimes disrupts a garden bed, they’re quietly doing the work of a natural gardener, keeping the ecosystem healthy and thriving.

What do they look like?

Adults have mostly black feathers, a bare red head and a bright yellow throat wattle. Males show off with a large, vivid wattle that hangs from their neck, while females have a smaller, paler one.

Baby Brush Turkeys hatch about the size of a quail, already covered in soft, fluffy brown feathers. They don’t rely on their parents at all and can fly within hours of hatching.

Brush Turkey mounds

The male Brush Turkey builds a large mound of decomposing vegetation to attract a mate. After mating, the female lays her eggs inside this mound, which must stay between 30-33 °C for proper incubation. Throughout this period, the male carefully maintains the mound’s temperature by adding or removing material as needed.

Once the chicks hatch and the male abandons the mound, the remaining compost, rich in organic matter, makes excellent garden soil because it improves both water retention and nutrient levels.

Living alongside Brush Turkeys

Brush Turkeys can sometimes be frustrating neighbours, especially when their foraging or mound‑building damages gardens. It’s natural to feel annoyed, but they’re simply following their instincts in an environment that has changed around them.

Feeding them isn’t recommended, as it makes them bolder and more likely to hang around human areas.

For humane ways to discourage them from your garden, or to learn more about their behaviour, the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has helpful guidance on their website.

Fun facts

• Brush turkeys roost in groups in trees.
• They belong to the Megapodiidae family, a name that comes from the Greek words for “big” (mega) and “foot” (pode).
• Brush Turkeys aren’t great fliers. They usually only take to the air to roost in trees at night, escape predators, or flutter back down to the ground.