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The maleo ( Macrocephalon maleo) is a large megapode and the only member of the monotypic genus Macrocephalon. The maleo is Endemism to Sulawesi and the nearby smaller island of Buton in Indonesia. It is found in the tropical lowland and hill forests, but nests in the open sandy areas, , or that are heated by the sun or geothermal energy for incubation.
The maleo is monogamous and members of a pair stay close to each other all the time. Its diet consists mainly of fruits, , , , , , and other small .
Maleos breed all year round, but peak breeding season varies depending upon the location on the island. When prepared to lay her eggs, the female maleo, accompanied by her mate, will leave the cover of the Sulawesian forest in search of historic coastal breeding grounds. Females can lay anywhere between 8–12 eggs over the course of a year. Once an optimal spot is chosen, the maleos dig a deep hole and lay the egg inside. After the egg is laid, the parents bury the egg securely in sand, sometimes covering the sand with other debris to better camouflage the hole. After the egg has been securely buried, the parents leave and never return, leaving the maleo chick to fend for itself.
The hot sand of Sulawesi acts as an incubator for maleo eggs, which are warmed with geothermal heat or solar heat. A maleo chick is completely self-sufficient only hours after hatching. For this reason, maleo eggs are approximately five times the size of a domestic chicken's, as they contain nearly full-formed maleos inside. It must dig its way up through the sand immediately after hatching, and subsequently has the ability to fly and feed itself.
Since 1972, this species has been protected by the Indonesian government. As of 2005, it is estimated that only 4,000-7,000 breeding pairs currently exist in the wild and these numbers are rapidly declining. Due to aforementioned threats, current population numbers, and deemed value of the species, the maleo is evaluated as critically endangered the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.
In 2009, US-based Wildlife Conservation Society worked with local government to purchase of Indonesian beach front property where approximately 40 nests are located in an effort to further conservation efforts and protect this bird. The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation works with communities in Sulawesi to educate locals about the maleo's endangered status and prevent the harvesting of eggs. The eggs are not a staple food source, but are a popular delicacy.
Peanuts are among the first food items that maleo chicks will eat and remain favoured for the duration of their lives. Other types of nuts and seeds, such as walnuts and almonds, are also enjoyed by these birds.
Egg laying in the maleo can be ascertained by dietary patterns. A few days prior to egg production, the female begins to increase the amount of oyster shells she consumes. Approximately a day before Oviparity, oyster shell consumption ceases and the female exhibits inappetence, which keepers refer to as 'off peanut'. The maleo's fondness for peanuts is such that it can be used as a benchmark for aberrant behaviour. An offered peanut met with anything less than extreme avidity may be a sign of impending oviposition or severe illness.
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