Red Junglefowl

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Galliformes

Family: Phasianidae

Genus: Gallus

Species: Gallus gallus

Descendant: Junglefowls

Named by: Carl Linnaeus

Year Published: 1758 (10th edition of Systema Naturae)

Size: 70 centimetres in height (28 in), (around ​2 1⁄4 lbs (1 kg) in females and ​3 1⁄4 lbs (1.5 kg) in males) in body mass, wingspan estimated to 15-20 inches

Lifespan: 10–30 years

Activity: Diurnal 🌅 

Thermoregulate: Endotherm

Type: 

• Reptiles (Archosaurs)

• Birds (Pheasants)

Title(s): 

• Wild Chicken

Other Name(s)/Alias(es): 

• Chicken

Pantheon: Terran/Gaian 🇺🇳

Time Period: Pliocene–Holocene

Alignment: Docile

Threat Level: ★★★

Diet: Omnivorous 🌱🐛

Elements: Air 🌬️

Inflicts: Airblight 🌬️, Coccidiosis 💩

Weaknesses: Rock 🪨 (50% immune); Electric ⚡; Metal 🔩

Casualties: none

Based On: itself 

Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC) – IUCN Red List

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Orange, brown, red, gold, grey, white, olive, and even metallic green feathers are all present in the nominate race of red junglefowl. The male rooster can reach a maximum length of 70 centimeters (28 inches), with its tail reaching up to 28 centimeters (11 inches). Fourteen tail feathers are present. The bird undergoes a June moult that results in an eclipse pattern on its plumage that lasts until October. A black feather in the center of the back and tiny red-orange plumes dispersed across the body are features of the male eclipse pattern. Despite having the same moulting pattern as males, female eclipse plumage is typically indistinguishable from that of other seasons.

The red junglefowl is brighter in color and has a much smaller body mass than the more common domestic chicken (about 2+1⁄4 pounds (1 kg) for females and 3+1⁄4 lbs (1.5 kg) for males). Male junglefowls have colorful ornamental feathers and are noticeably larger than females. The long, arching feathers that make up the male's tail appear black at first, but when exposed to bright light, they shimmer in shades of blue, purple, and green. Additionally, his back and neck are adorned with beautiful, golden hackle feathers. The cryptic and camouflage-adapted plumage of the female is characteristic of this family of birds. She is the only one who tends to the chicks and eggs. In comparison to the males, she also has a much smaller comb and wattles, which are fleshy decorations on the head that indicate good health to competitors and possible mates.

To maintain the proper ratio of oil in their feathers, red junglefowl frequently bathe in dust. Extra oil is absorbed by the dust, which then falls off. The proximity of roosts has been used to estimate the size of the territories, which dominant male junglefowls seem to defend against other dominant males. Ales engage in a food-related behavior known as "tidbiting" when they come across food while a female is around. Coaxing, cluck-like noises and striking head and neck bobbing and twitching movements make up the presentation.

The male continuously uses his beak to pick up and drop the food item during the act. The hen typically removes the food item from the ground or straight from the male's beak to cease the exhibition. Then, mating occasionally takes place. Without human contact, the red junglefowls might occasionally create a cockfighting style for their female. In contrast to their progeny, who are chickens, junglefowls were able to fly in the wild.

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In the environment or plantations, red junglefowl are drawn to regions with ripe fruit or seeds, vegetables, falling fruits, worms, other tiny insects and larvae, and roots and bamboo shoots. Furthermore, a broad range of arthropods, various invertebrates, and vertebrates, including tiny lizards, are captured by red junglefowl. You can even eat the feces of mammals.  While some arthropods, like termites, are consumed in enormous quantities—roughly 1,000 termites have been discovered in a single crop—many of these items are opportunistically consumed as the bird's food. Compared to arthropods and other animals, a larger percentage of the adult red junglefowl's diet consists of plant components. On the other hand, chicks primarily consume earthworms, adult and larval insects, and sporadic plant matter.

Junglefowl differ from domestic chickens in their behavior as well; unlike the relatively gentler domesticated variety, they are inherently quite frightened of people.

From Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh in the west to southern China and Indochina in the east, as well as south-southeast into Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia, is where the wild form can be found. Beginning roughly 5,000 years ago, early Austronesian peoples from Island Southeast Asia brought three primary animals on their prehistoric journeys to the islands of Oceania: junglefowls or chickens, domesticated pigs, and canines. Their contemporary descendants can be found in Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia.

Red junglefowl favor edges and disturbed habitats, both man-made and natural.  Junglefowl, particularly nesting females, are drawn to the dense cover and feed found in these types of settings. Both deforested and regenerating forests are used by junglefowl, which are frequently found close to populated areas or regions where slash-and-burn farming has caused regrowth. Because there are more edible bamboo seeds available, areas that have been torched to encourage bamboo growth also draw junglefowl.

Red junglefowl can be found in tea plantations and palm oil plantations in some places, but they are not found in silvicultural and rubber plantations in others.  In Malaysia's Selangor state, palm leaves offer ample cover, palm nut fruit supplies enough sustenance, and insects (and their larvae) live inside and near the trees.  The palms provide a variety of roost locations as well, ranging from the low perches (~4 m) that females with chicks choose to the higher perches (up to 12 m) that other adults use.

Red junglefowl do not need surface water, but they do drink it when it is accessible. While not all junglefowl on the subcontinent live close enough to water to visit water holes, birds in North-Central India do so often during the dry season; in areas with limited surface water, population numbers may be lower.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Nomadic

• Population Trend: Decreasing

• Population: ugh

• Locomotion: Airborne

• Habitat: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): Bhutan; Timor-Leste

  • Extant (Breeding): Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Vietnam

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): Dominican Republic; Fiji; Jamaica; Japan; Puerto Rico

  • Extant & Introduced (Breeding): Australia; Marshall Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Nauru; Northern Mariana Islands; Palau; United States (Hawaiian Is.)

• Berbania/Hirawhassa: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): none

• Reinachos/Ityosel: none

• Thatrollwa: none

• Sawintir: none

• Agarathos: none

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Past and Present Incidents - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a 

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

The Recollections of Queen Arianna - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

See also: none

• Coming soon

Coming soon

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_junglefowl

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22679199/263732457