Red junglefowl

Native to Asia where they were first domesticated, the ancestors to all our chickens

Jason Thompson

The Junglefowl is a tropical bird that may be found in most of Southeast Asia and South Asia. It is the domestic chicken’s direct ancestor. The Junglefowl has a significantly lower body mass and a brighter color than the more common domestic chicken. In addition, Junglefowl varies from domestic chickens in that they are instinctively wary of people, in contrast to the much milder domesticated variety.

Male Junglefowl is bigger and has brilliantly colored ornamental feathers than females.

In direct sunlight, the male’s tail is made up of long, arching feathers that appear black at first and then shimmer with blue, purple, and green. On his neck and back, he also possesses long golden hackle feathers. Because she is the only caretaker of the eggs and chicks, the female’s plumage is cryptic and tailored for hiding, which is characteristic of this family of birds. In comparison to males, she has a short comb and wattles.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Australia
2016
Breeding
Bangladesh
2016
Breeding
Bhutan
2016
Cambodia
2016
Breeding
China
2016
Breeding
Dominican Republic
2016
Introduced
East Timor
2016
Fiji
2016
Introduced
India
2016
Breeding
Indonesia
2016
Breeding
Jamaica
2016
Introduced
Laos
2016
Breeding
Malaysia
2016
Breeding
Marshall Islands
2016
Breeding
Micronesia
2016
Breeding
Myanmar
2016
Breeding
Nauru
2016
Breeding
Nepal
2016
Breeding
Nort. Mariana Is.
2016
Breeding
Pakistan
2016
Breeding
Palau
2016
Breeding
Philippines
2016
Breeding
Puerto Rico
2016
Introduced
Singapore
2016
Breeding
Thailand
2016
Breeding
United States
2016
Breeding: Hawaiian Is.
Vietnam
2016
Breeding

Anything we've missed?

Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!

Suggest an edit

Get to know me

Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No