A dumpy, partridge-like bird with an obvious crest and powerful legs and feet. Uniform reddish-brown with dull orange legs. Immatures buffier, with blackish legs. Terrestrial. Found in pairs or small groups mostly within lowland forest and coastal scrub. Restricted to Sula and Banggai islands, where no other megapodes or similar birds occur. Call is an explosive “KYER-OW-Kyer”, starting strongly and becoming less powerful at the end. Sometimes includes some bubbling notes.