Full Taxonomy
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Gallus
Species: Gallus gallus
Other Names (Johnsgaurd, 1999)
French: coq bankiva
German: Bankivahuhn Wilduhn
Other: Wild Junglefowl
Distribution
Red Junglefowl: Native to Pakistan, India (including the Nicobar and Andaman Islands), Nepal, China, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar,Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Introduced to Indonesia (including Sulawesi, Timor), the Philippines, Natal, South Africa, Georgia & Hawaii, USA, Oceania, others...
Indian: North & Northeast India into Tibet, Nepal and Pakistan. Acording to Johnsgard (1999), the Indian red junglefowl is a "Resident in northern and northeastern India, the lower ranges of the Himalayas from southern Kashmir to Assam, and northern and east-central India. Rarely from the plains to 2,135 m (7,000 ft), normally not above the foothills; in sal forest and adjacent scrub."
Burmese: Under Construction
Cochin-Chinese: Under Construction
Tonkinese: Under Construction
Javan: Under Construction
Physical Description
This species varies in appearance between subspecies and is further varied by the amount of domestic influence on the population at hand. Therefore an accurate description is purely theoretical. To better understand the morphological diversity exhibited by this species it is best to find and view various photographs of birds across their native range - or better yet, observe them in the wild!
Photographs
Written Descriptions
- Male Indian Red Junglefowl
- Female Indian Red Junglefowl
Study Skins
- Male Indian Red Junglefowl
- Female Indian Red Junglefowl
Weights & Measurements
The following weights and measurements were found in "The Pheasants of The World: Biology and Natural History" by Paul A. Johnsgaurd (1999) and in the document “Red Junglefowl and Kalij Pheasants” by Dr. Gardiner Bump and Wayne H. Bohl (1961):
Males
Weight: 1.8-2.2 lbs / 1.5-2.0 lbs
Body length: 25.0" - 28.2"
Wing length: 7.9" - 9.5"
Tail length: 11.7" - 14.8"
Females
Weight: 1.1-1.6 lbs
Body length: 16.5" - 18.25"
Wing length: 6.9" - 7.6"
Tail length: 5.7" - 6.4"
Habitat
Like many other aspects of the species, the habitat of the red junglefowl varies greatly among subspecies, and therefore difficult to generalize. In general they prefer open forests, forest edges, scrub, bamboo groves, tall grasses, old dirt roads or trails and similar habitats. They typically avoid dense forests, coniferous forests and swamps. On the Indian subcontinent they are often found in Sal forests up to about 2000 meters (Bump & Bohl, 1961).
Feeding Habits
Red junglefowl are omnivorous and very opportunistic feeders. This species will eat a great variety of plant matter, insects, along with small reptiles, amphibians and mammals. In many cases termites often make up a substantial part of their diet. Again, diets are undoubtedly correlated to the specific region in which the birds are found.
Breeding Information
Under Construction...
Wild Population Status
Generally a common and abundant species but the purity of most wild red junglefowl is uncertain. There are also some places where they are scarce from habitat disruption, overhunting or other human activities.
Status in Aviculture
There are many red junglefowl in aviculture around the world but like wild birds it is likely that most of the captive birds are genetically contaminated. Only a few populations of red junglefowl exhibit all the morphological and behavioral characteristics of pure, wild type birds.
