The Micronesian megapode, known as sasangat in Chamorro & sasangal in Carolinian, is a pigeon-sized bird of the forest floor. This subspecies is endemic to the Mariana Islands & differs slightly from the Palauan subspecies (Megapodius laperouse senex) in color, vocalizations, and morphology (USFWS 1998). It has dark gray-brown to black body plumage & an ash gray head with a slightly darker, short, rough crest. The flight feathers & short tail are grayish-black, & the wings are short & rounded. The feathers around the eye, ear, & throat are very sparse or absent, revealing red skin, and a red gular skin patch when the neck is extended. The posture is often rather hunched. The bill is yellow with the upper mandible clove-brown to black at the base. The heavily built legs and feet are yellow with the joints of toes and/or all the upper surface dark gray-black. The iris is orange brown to dark brown (Baker 1951, Jones et al. 1995). Average weight is about 350 grams (12.25 ounces).