1. plural of moundbird; large ground-dwelling birds of the family Megapodiidae, native to Australia and nearby regions, that build large mounds of soil and vegetation to incubate their eggs
Usage: also called megapodes; chiefly Australian

Examples

• Moundbirds are remarkable for their unique nesting behavior, constructing enormous mounds to regulate egg temperature.
• The Australian moundbirds rely on geothermal heat and decomposition to warm their eggs rather than sitting on them.
• Several species of moundbirds are found throughout Australia and the Pacific islands.
• Researchers study moundbirds to understand how they maintain precise incubation temperatures without parental brooding.
• The largest moundbirds can create mounds up to 16 feet tall and 150 feet in diameter.