Gray Junglefowl
Gallus sonneratii
Common relative of the domestic chicken. Endemic to peninsular India where it occurs in deciduous and evergreen forest. Males are grayish with golden markings on the wings, whitish spotting around the neck, a long glossy-black tail, pinkish feet. Red comb and wattle are smaller than the widespread Red Junglefowl. Females are rather plain, lacking the long tail, comb and wattle; yellowish legs and bold white spotting on underparts separate them from similar looking female Red Junglefowl. Quite noisy, their “kuk-ku-kuwuk-ku” calls are heard almost year-round.
Identification
The male has a black cape with ochre spots and the body plumage on a grey ground colour is finely patterned. The elongated neck feathers are dark and end in a small, hard, yellowish plate; this peculiar structure making them popular for making high-grade artificial flies. The male has red wattles and combs but not as strongly developed as in the red junglefowl. Legs of males are red and have spurs while the yellow legs of females usually lack spurs. The central tail feathers are long and sickle shaped. Males have an eclipse plumage in which they moult their colourful neck feathers in summer during or after the breeding season.<p>The female is duller and has black and white streaking on the underparts and yellow legs.
Taxonomy
Genus: Gallus; Family: Phasianidae; Order: Galliformes.
- Scientific name
- Gallus sonneratii
- Authority
- Temminck, 1813
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Gallus
Range and habitat
This species is endemic to India, and even today it is found mainly in peninsular India and towards the northern boundary. They are found in thickets, on the forest floor and open scrub. The species occurs mainly in the Indian Peninsula, but extends into Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and southern Rajasthan. The red junglefowl is found more along the foothills of the Himalayas; a region of overlap occurs in the Aravalli range. although the ranges are largely non-overlapping.<p>The populations from the region of Mount Abu in Rajasthan named as the subspecies wangyeli is usually not recognized although it is said that the calls of the cock from this region differs from the call of birds from southern India and the plumage is much paler.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Sumba Flowerpecker
Dicaeum wilhelminae
Small and stout forest-dweller that hops and buzzes about in the canopy like a large, active insect. Note male’s iridescent dark blue back, bright red chest, and black line extending down the white belly. As with many other flowerpeckers, the female is considerably duller, with a red rump patch being the only patch of bright color on her otherwise gray-brown plumage. Endemic to Sumba, where found in wooded habitats throughout the island. Gives a short, descending series of whistles, as well as piercing high-pitched notes.
Pale-headed Rosella
Platycercus adscitus
Pale yellow and blue rosella with characteristic white and yellow head. Endemic to the northern parts of eastern Australia where it may hybridize with other rosellas. Occurs in a wide range of open habitats, and mostly in pairs rather than large flocks. Reasonably common in suburban areas, although it can be hard to find.
Fulvous Wren
Cinnycerthia fulva
Reddish-brown wren with a faint pale eyebrow found in the understory of humid montane forest. Larger and longer-tailed than the tiny Mountain Wren, which also has a bolder eyebrow. Replaced at the northern end of its range by the very similar Peruvian Wren. Forages singly or in pairs low in bushes and near the ground. Listen for its loud song, a flowing series of whistles and trills.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.