The family Megapodidae, belonging to the order Galliformes, comprises the mound-building birds commonly known as megapodes or incubator birds. These birds are notable for their unique reproductive strategy: instead of using body heat to incubate their eggs, they build large mounds of soil, leaf litter, or sand, which generate heat through microbial decomposition, solar warming, or both. Megapodes are generally medium to large, ground-dwelling birds with strong legs adapted for scratching and digging. They are found across Australasia and the islands of the western Pacific, inhabiting forests, scrublands, and coastal areas. Their diet is omnivorous, consisting of seeds, fruits, and invertebrates. Megapodids are remarkable for their precocial chicks, which hatch fully feathered and capable of immediate independence, making them unique among birds.