Forages on the ground, scraping about in the leaf litter and detritus.

Like other megapodes, builds mounds and digs burrows to incubate eggs.

"[3] It was formerly conspecific with the Dusky megapode but is differentiated with a lighter brown plummage and legs and with prominent red facial skin.

Seven subspecies are recognized: Feeds on insects, mostly larvae, beetles, termites, worms and snails.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as a Least-concern species but was formerly considered to near threatened.