# Maleo

> A Sulawesi bird that uses environmental heat to incubate its eggs. Its survival connects forest living areas with highly specialised nesting grounds.

Source: https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/maleo/ · Updated 7 October 2026 · English · Bahasa Indonesia: https://panduanhewan.org/id/spesies/maleo/
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**Review status:** Approved by team on 2026-10-07. Approval covers this version’s narrative, facts, quick answers and recorded locations in both languages.

## Quick answer

The maleo (*Macrocephalon maleo*) is a bird in the family Megapodiidae. Range in Indonesia: Sulawesi and Buton. It is endemic to Indonesia, living naturally only in Sulawesi and Buton Island. Diet: fallen fruit and seeds, plus insects and other invertebrates on the forest floor; a omnivore. IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | *Macrocephalon maleo* |
| Group | Birds |
| Family | Megapodiidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Sulawesi and Buton |
| Linked habitats | [Tropical Rainforests](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/tropical-rainforest/) |
| Incubation heat | Solar or geothermal heat |
| Chicks | Independent after hatching |
| IUCN status | Critically Endangered · [IUCN Red List (via GBIF)](https://www.gbif.org/species/2482154) · checked 1 October 2026 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · [Regulation P.106/2018](https://jdih.kehutanan.go.id/new2/uploads/files/P_106_2018_JENIS_TSL_menlhk_07252019152513.pdf) · annex no. 394 |
| Population | 8,000–14,000 mature individuals (2000 estimate; population decreasing) · [BirdLife International DataZone — Maleo species factsheet](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo) |
| Eggs | Females lay 8–12 eggs per season in pits heated by the sun or geothermal heat; each egg averages 16% of the female's body weight · [BirdLife International DataZone — Maleo species factsheet](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo) |
| Nesting grounds | Of 149 nesting grounds active since 1983, only 47 are currently considered active · [BirdLife International DataZone — Maleo species factsheet](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo) |
| Diet type | Omnivore (eats plants and animals) — fallen fruit and seeds, plus insects and other invertebrates on the forest floor · [Oiseaux-Birds](https://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-maleo.html) |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs (oviparous) · [BirdLife DataZone](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo) |
| Active | Diurnal (active by day) — Research at Panua Nature Reserve, Gorontalo, reported morning and late-afternoon peaks; the times do not automatically apply at every site. · [Rosalia et al. 2025, A spatial and temporal assessment of Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) nesting behavior and habitat preferences - Journal of Earth Kingdom 3(1): 18-33 (PDF)](https://journal-iasssf.com/index.php/JEK/article/download/2031/1355/11771) |
| Endemic to Indonesia | Yes — Sulawesi and Buton Island · [BirdLife DataZone](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo) |

## A ground bird that also uses trees

Maleos have dark bodies, pale pinkish underparts, and a raised head ornament. They forage on the ground and use trees for night roosts. Calling one a ground bird therefore does not mean its entire life takes place without trees.

Evidence: [Cornell Lab eBird — Maleo](https://ebird.org/species/maleo1) · [WCS Wild View (2018) — Maleo range and forest-to-nesting habitat links](https://blog.wcs.org/photo/2018/03/23/bronx-bird-with-a-backpack-helps-wild-cousins-maleo/)

## Nests receive heat from the environment

Maleos bury eggs in soil or sand warmed by the sun or geothermal sources. They do not incubate them with body heat as many birds do. Nesting-ground conditions are therefore essential to reproduction, rather than merely empty space beside a forest.

Evidence: [WCS — A bizarre bird: the maleo](https://blog.wcs.org/photo/2015/11/19/a-bizarre-bird-the-maleo-indonesia/)

## Chicks start life independently

WCS describes maleo chicks emerging with developed feathers and without the parental care typical of many other birds. Their early lives still require safe habitat. Seeing a chick alone does not establish that it has been abandoned or needs taking home.

Evidence: [WCS Indonesia — Maleo](https://indonesia.wcs.org/id-id/Wildlife/Maleo.aspx)

## Forest and nesting grounds must remain connected

Maleo protection needs both forests and egg-laying grounds. In a 2009 report, WCS documented protection of Binerean beach with a local organisation. This is a dated action example, not an assessment of the beach today. Ask current programmes about habitat connections and monitoring outcomes.

Evidence: [WCS — Protecting maleo nesting beach](https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6007/WCS-Helps-Buy-Private-Beach-for-Maleo-Nests.aspx) · [WCS Wild View (2018) — Maleo range and forest-to-nesting habitat links](https://blog.wcs.org/photo/2018/03/23/bronx-bird-with-a-backpack-helps-wild-cousins-maleo/)

## Support that leaves nesting undisturbed

WCS identifies excessive egg collection and habitat loss as threats. Follow managed paths and access limits; do not dig nests or ask staff to display eggs for photographs. Useful programmes explain monitoring and community involvement, beyond the number of eggs handled.

Evidence: [WCS Indonesia — Maleo](https://indonesia.wcs.org/id-id/Wildlife/Maleo.aspx) · [American Birding Association — Code of Birding Ethics](https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/)

## Scientific classification of the Maleo

| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Megapodiidae |
| Genus | *Macrocephalon* |
| Species | *Macrocephalon maleo* |

Source: [GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/dataset/d7dddbf4-2cf0-4f39-9b2a-bb099caae36c)

## Common questions about the maleo

### What is the scientific name of the maleo?

The scientific name of the maleo is *Macrocephalon maleo*, in the family Megapodiidae.

### What kind of animal is the maleo?

The maleo is a bird in the family Megapodiidae. By diet it is a omnivore (eats plants and animals): a fallen fruit and seeds, plus insects and other invertebrates on the forest floor. It is also endemic to Indonesia.

### Where does the maleo live in Indonesia?

In Indonesia, this guide records the maleo in: Sulawesi and Buton.

The maleo is endemic to Indonesia and lives naturally only in Sulawesi and Buton Island. Source: [BirdLife DataZone](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo).

Source-supported habitats: [Tropical Rainforests](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/tropical-rainforest/).

### What does the maleo eat?

The maleo is a fallen fruit and seeds, plus insects and other invertebrates on the forest floor. That makes it a omnivore (eats plants and animals). Source: [Oiseaux-Birds](https://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-maleo.html).

### How does the maleo reproduce?

The maleo reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Eggs are buried in sand warmed by the sun or geothermal heat; the parents do not incubate them, and chicks hatch fully independent and able to fly. Source: [BirdLife DataZone](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo).

### Is the maleo nocturnal?

The cited source records the maleo as diurnal (active by day). Research at Panua Nature Reserve, Gorontalo, reported morning and late-afternoon peaks; the times do not automatically apply at every site. Source: [Rosalia et al. 2025, A spatial and temporal assessment of Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) nesting behavior and habitat preferences - Journal of Earth Kingdom 3(1): 18-33 (PDF)](https://journal-iasssf.com/index.php/JEK/article/download/2031/1355/11771).

See also [the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/nocturnal-and-diurnal-animals/).

### How large is the population of the maleo?

8,000–14,000 mature individuals (2000 estimate; population decreasing). Source: [BirdLife International DataZone — Maleo species factsheet](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo). Wild population figures are estimates and can differ between surveys.

### What is the scientific classification of the maleo?

Scientific classification of the maleo: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Aves, order Galliformes, family Megapodiidae, genus *Macrocephalon*, species *Macrocephalon maleo*.

Source: [GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/dataset/d7dddbf4-2cf0-4f39-9b2a-bb099caae36c), adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.

### Is the maleo endangered?

Yes. On the IUCN Red List, the maleo is listed as Critically Endangered: it is considered to face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Source: [IUCN Red List (via GBIF)](https://www.gbif.org/species/2482154), checked 1 October 2026.

This global category is separate from national legal protection. [Is the maleo protected in Indonesia?](#protected)

### Is the maleo protected in Indonesia?

Yes. The maleo (*Macrocephalon maleo*) is a protected species in Indonesia under [Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species](https://jdih.kehutanan.go.id/new2/uploads/files/P_106_2018_JENIS_TSL_menlhk_07252019152513.pdf) (annex, entry 394).

Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.

If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the [local BKSDA office](https://panduanhewan.org/en/bksda-offices/).

### Can the maleo be kept as a pet?

No. Because the maleo is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.

If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the [local BKSDA office](https://panduanhewan.org/en/bksda-offices/).

## Sources & references

1. [Cornell Lab eBird — Maleo](https://ebird.org/species/maleo1)
2. [WCS Indonesia — Maleo](https://indonesia.wcs.org/id-id/Wildlife/Maleo.aspx)
3. [WCS — A bizarre bird: the maleo](https://blog.wcs.org/photo/2015/11/19/a-bizarre-bird-the-maleo-indonesia/)
4. [WCS — Protecting maleo nesting beach](https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6007/WCS-Helps-Buy-Private-Beach-for-Maleo-Nests.aspx)
5. [American Birding Association — Code of Birding Ethics](https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/)
6. [WCS Wild View (2018) — Maleo range and forest-to-nesting habitat links](https://blog.wcs.org/photo/2018/03/23/bronx-bird-with-a-backpack-helps-wild-cousins-maleo/)
7. [Peraturan Menteri LHK Nomor P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi](https://jdih.kehutanan.go.id/new2/uploads/files/P_106_2018_JENIS_TSL_menlhk_07252019152513.pdf)
8. [BirdLife International DataZone — Maleo species factsheet](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/maleo-macrocephalon-maleo)
9. [Oiseaux-Birds](https://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-maleo.html)
10. [Rosalia et al. 2025, A spatial and temporal assessment of Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) nesting behavior and habitat preferences - Journal of Earth Kingdom 3(1): 18-33 (PDF)](https://journal-iasssf.com/index.php/JEK/article/download/2031/1355/11771)
11. [GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF)](https://www.gbif.org/dataset/d7dddbf4-2cf0-4f39-9b2a-bb099caae36c)

## Further reading

[Maleo: facts, threats and conservation](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/maleo/) — World Animal Rescue Network.

_Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network._

## Keep exploring

- [Tropical Rainforests](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/tropical-rainforest/)
- [Sulawesi bear cuscus](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/sulawesi-bear-cuscus/)
- [Finding a Young Wild Animal](https://panduanhewan.org/en/emergency/found-young-wild-animal/)
- [Reporting Suspected Wildlife Trafficking](https://panduanhewan.org/en/emergency/report-wildlife-trade/)

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Cite: PanduanHewan. (2026). Maleo. PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/maleo/