any of a family (Megapodiidae) of large-footed, ground-dwelling gallinaceous birds of Australia and the East Indies that bury their eggs, often in mounds they have built of earth and vegetation
Origin:
see megapod
See megapode in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of various large-footed, ground-dwelling birds of the family Megapodiidae, found in Australia and many South Pacific islands, that build mounds or burrows of earth and compost in which to incubate their eggs. Also called moundbird, mound builder, scrub fowl.