Pile-builder megapode facts for kids

The pile-builder megapode (scientific name: Megapodius molistructor) was a large bird that is now extinct. It belonged to a group of birds called megapodes. Scientists found its ancient bones, called subfossils, in places like the Pindai Caves in New Caledonia and also on the island of Tonga. Two scientists, Jean-Christophe Balouet and Storrs L. Olson, helped discover these remains.

What Was the Pile-Builder Megapode Like?

This megapode was quite a big bird! It weighed about 3.5 kilograms (that's about 7.7 pounds). This made it heavier than any megapode species alive today. On the island of Tonga, it was the biggest bird that lived on the ground.

Scientists found many different bones from this bird. These bones included parts of its legs, wings, and feet. Finding these bones helped them understand how big the bird was and how it lived.

Why Did the Pile-Builder Megapode Disappear?

Around 1500 BC, early settlers from the Lapita culture arrived in Tonga. They discovered many animals, including large birds like megapodes, doves, and rails. These settlers hunted the birds for food. This hunting caused many of these large bird species to quickly become extinct.

In New Caledonia, the pile-builder megapode might have survived for a longer time. A naturalist named William Anderson described a bird from New Caledonia. He was a surgeon's mate on Captain James Cook's ship, the HMS Resolution. Anderson described a bird with bare legs, which he called Tetrao australis. Since most Tetrao species have feathered legs, Anderson's bird might have actually been a megapode. This suggests the pile-builder megapode could have lived until more recent times in New Caledonia.